Discerning Bonfires

Ashes don’t burn. Kindling does. So does wet wood, but it takes more time. If you keep throwing ashes on the fire, it will only dull it. So learn to discern the moments that you keep throwing on the fire what God has already burned up. Learn the difference between enduring wood (even wet wood) and old ashes. 

One of my favorite holiday activities was building a bonfire with my uncle. He doesn’t have that land anymore, but lessons I learned by simply building a bonfire with him still remain in me. Ashes don’t burn. Kindling does. The old stuff in our life that God burned up, we don’t need to throw on the fire again…it will only dull the fire. Consider your kindling. Stop reaching for ashes. Clear the pit and lay down new wood and start small…and keep stoking. Years ago, my uncle and I made a huge bonfire but it wouldn’t light. He said it’s because it’s been wet but come back in an hour and you’d be surprised what it will do. I didn’t believe him. An hour passed, nothing.

I waited and waited. Nothing. So I went back up to the house and looked out the window occasionally. After more time passed, I saw smoke starting to rise and went down to the stack at the bottom of the hill. Another hour later, the orange glowed through the cracks and then the fire took hold of the massive pile. Night fell, and I saw it in all its glory. I loved it. Learned a lot that day. You can make a bonfire with some damp wood but you can’t make it with ashes. But don’t confuse wet wood with ashes or vice versa. Ashes don’t burn. Kindling does. The more enduring the wood, the better. And wet wood takes a little more time.