Damp Logs

Our late Spring vacation in the mountains came with chilly mornings and evenings. It was too late in the season for the Park staff to restock firewood, but temperatures in the low 50s made fires something we looked forward to each day. My only option was to scrounge the few remaining logs that had been sitting around in the damp weather, probably for weeks.

Starting a fire with damp wood was a challenge to be sure. But with some persistence, we soon heard the crackling and popping of a fire that filled our cabin with warmth (and a little smoke).

What I discovered, though, was that I could never leave the fire for long. I had to tend it constantly. If the damp logs separated from one another, the fire would quickly die out.

I think Christians are like damp logs. Most of us don't burn hot alone. Separated and isolated from one another, the flame of our faith will die out too. So, I admire and appreciate people with the gift of connecting people—tending the community. It's a gift that stirs vitality and warmth for us all.