Two days after I set fire to a mountainous pile of debris, it still burns. Today while pulling
into the driveway, I saw a wisp of smoke drifting ever upward in our side yard.
Leaving my things in the truck, I stepped inside the fence gate and headed over to inspect the area. Several of the logs in the pile were huge and thick timbers that burned slowly.
I took the rake and shifted all the big pieces together. Usually, I collect dried pine straw and toss it on top to rekindle the fire, but when I pulled everything together they got a breath of breeze, and a small flame erupted. If I can keep the pieces together a while longer, they'll burn into to ash as fine as face powder.
That's what fire does. It changes things. A strong oak becomes ash and soot if it stays in a fire long enough.
In a sense, life is like a fire. I mentioned a few posts ago that I'd discovered a stash of old photographs. I posted a few pictures from back in the 1970s of us with friends on Facebook. My feed lit up with Likes and Comments.
Back then I had a full beard and a headful of hair. My legs weren't bad in those days either but then the years nipped away at the body, and I simply don't have the strength and stamina that I had in those days.
But I'm not whining. Jilda and I have both enjoyed a wonderful life full of friends, adventure, and happiness. As I've said before, things change. Anyone who doesn't believe it should talk to the oak tree simmering in the fire.
Leaving my things in the truck, I stepped inside the fence gate and headed over to inspect the area. Several of the logs in the pile were huge and thick timbers that burned slowly.
I took the rake and shifted all the big pieces together. Usually, I collect dried pine straw and toss it on top to rekindle the fire, but when I pulled everything together they got a breath of breeze, and a small flame erupted. If I can keep the pieces together a while longer, they'll burn into to ash as fine as face powder.
That's what fire does. It changes things. A strong oak becomes ash and soot if it stays in a fire long enough.
In a sense, life is like a fire. I mentioned a few posts ago that I'd discovered a stash of old photographs. I posted a few pictures from back in the 1970s of us with friends on Facebook. My feed lit up with Likes and Comments. Back then I had a full beard and a headful of hair. My legs weren't bad in those days either but then the years nipped away at the body, and I simply don't have the strength and stamina that I had in those days.
But I'm not whining. Jilda and I have both enjoyed a wonderful life full of friends, adventure, and happiness. As I've said before, things change. Anyone who doesn't believe it should talk to the oak tree simmering in the fire.
Thank heavens things DO change!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a well-written post, and I especially like that beautiful last line.
ReplyDeleteThe answer is blowing in the wind.
ReplyDeleteI think my body is slowly burning away also.
ReplyDeleteLove the way you wrapped the burning tree into the old picture. I have to say...thank god the fashion is a teensy weeny bit better:)
ReplyDeleteSeems the older I get things kick in memories. I was always amazed how Great Grandpa could seem to start a fire in the old fireplace every morning without a match.
ReplyDeleteLike the old photos. good visit to Life 101 tonight.
beautiful sharing ,i agree in a way life treat us like fire as it changes our shapes in external means but yet it bless us with lots and lots of lovely and wonderful experiences which stay in our heart forever and lighten up our souls with their warm and life giving memories
ReplyDeleteYes things do change Rick I believe you. I just never saw Jesus in a pair of short before. Nice legs. hehe.
ReplyDeleteJB
Julia has me rolling over here. I now forgot what to say.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that flash back to the 70's! You all are adorable.
Lisa
Even though I don't handle change well, I know that change is good and that we all change as we age as long as we change in a good way it is all ok
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