Lessons from a Campfire

"We need to build a fire to get warm," a Scout said as he climbed out of his tent at 2:00 AM. We were on an overnight winter camp back in 1993. I told the other leader that it would happen, as we nestled into our sleeping bags that chilly night. "You watch," I said. At about two or three in the morning the Scouts will be cold and will climb out of their sleeping bags and tents and want to build a fire."  Just as I predicted, it was happening.

I also knew that the Scouts would not be able to build a fire and that I would end up out in the cold showing them how. I waited. This was a teaching opportunity and one that I was familiar with. I've watched a lot of Scouts try to build fires. I've watched them on overnight camps as well as week long camps, but the best time to watch and to teach is on winter camps. Cold and sometimes wet conditions have a way of sending a message home. "Does anyone know how to start a fire?" "I'm freezing!" "Where's the matches?" "Here, grab these logs and put them in the fire pit." "I wish we had some gas." I stayed in my tent just a little longer. Th Scouts had to at least try before I came to the rescue.

I dressed and climbed out of my tent. The Scouts turned and begged for help. "Hurry, hurry, they yelled. As I started to gather some wood, I mentioned something about being prepared. I told them that a Scout should be able to start a fire with only two matches. "Take all the logs that you have placed in the fire pit and set them off to the side," I said. "Go look under that tarp and bring me some of the wood," I asked. A couple of Scouts quickly lifted the tarp grabbed some wood and placed it by me. "This wood was split and prepared before we came to camp," I said. "If you notice, it is stacked under the tarp according to size." What we need to do to get a fire going is to start with the smallest pieces and build up as we go. In fact, the pieces need to be so small, I will have to shave off some very small splinters with my knife." I opened my pocket knife and shaved off several small, thin wafers of wood. I then even split these into even smaller pieces. I showed the Scouts how to build a small Tepee with the shavings . I asked them to arrange the other pieces of wood near the fire pit according to size and to be ready to hand them to me when I asked for them.

I took out one stick match and stroked it against one of the rocks lining the fire pit and then gently held it under the small wood Tepee. The small wood shavings started to light and I asked on of the Scouts to hand me some more shavings. I placed these gently on top of the ignited pieces slowly piece by piece as the fire started to catch. Once these pieces where burning well, I asked the Scouts to hand me a few of the larger pieces of wood. Soon we had a decent fire going and the cold Scouts huddled around rubbing there hands and drying there wet socks and shoes on the rocks that lined the fire pit.

As we warmed near the fire and placed larger logs on its flames, I mentioned how building a fire is similar to how we build our lives. We start out with limited knowledge and experience. We learn the basics line upon line, here a little, there a little until we have more knowledge and more ability. As we gain in knowledge and ability, we are able to do more with our lives. I then mentioned that once we have our own fires within us burning and going strong, we should use that knowledge, talent, and ability to help others. Just as this fire provides light and warmth to all of us who surround it, our lives, can provide light and warmth to those around us.

Great Lessons from 2012

The past year was a great learning experience for me. I'm glad that I'm still able and willing to learn. I think the most important thing I learned is this: our journey on this planet doesn't always turn out the way we plan or want it to. This one important lesson was driven home when my wife and I tried to hike to the top of Timpanogos Peak.

We thought about the hike, dreamed about the hike, and planned for the hike. It was a tall  (no pun intended) task for us. Physically, we were prepared, yet we found ourselves challenged in some sections of the trail. I will admit my wife is a slow hiker, and I've had to learn a measure of patience when hiking with her. This patience has allowed me to realize that there is more to hiking than getting to the end of the trail and back. There are beauties to behold and transcendental thoughts to be entertained.

We hiked with another couple and I became aware of their needs. We slowed them down. They were in the mode of an endurance athlete in a marathon. Time was important to them. Had we not been so slow, the decision to go all the way to the summit would have been easier, but to push the last mile to the summit would have taken close to another hour at the pace we were hiking. We discussed several scenarios that would allow my wife her goal of making it to the top, but we eventually talked her out of it.

My hang-up was fear of the last mile of trail. I have always been afraid of heights and in my "older" years I find it is more prominent. About 28 years ago I was diagnosed with Menieries disease. I have had vertigo issues, and hearing loss. When we made it to the saddle and I took the final steps over a narrow angled trail and viewed the valley below, I became afraid. The remainder of the trail looked to be on a steep angle. I convinced my mind that I could go no farther. Taking into consideration the time restraint and my own fear, we decided that we had made a good enough effort and we needed to get back down off the mountain. My wife was saddened. As I think back, I feel sorry that she was not able to reach the summit. I have no doubt that she would have had we been hiking alone.

I don't think we will ever go back and attempt to make the summit. We have to be satisfied with what we did accomplish on that hike. We made it to the saddle which is a worthy goal and the actual destination of many hikers. We saw terrain, wildlife, and sights and sounds that we would have never seen if we had not attempted to summit. We learned some valuable lessons about ourselves and about our interactions as a wife and husband. I've come to realize that we didn't settle for anything less, by not reaching the top. I'm sure their are others who would consider us failures for not making that final push, but satisfaction is a matter of perception.

This past year, I was able to get out and do some exploring with my fly fishing. I fished two small creeks that I knew about for several years but never made the effort to get to them. They were brushy, small, and held small colorful trout. For me, this type of fishing is what I enjoy. I find much satisfaction in the solitude and beauty of these small waters. While others are concerned with the size of trout they catch and the social aspects of angling with others, I've realized, after trying to reach the "summit" of the fly fishing and tying arena, that I don't need it. My wife has accompanied me on most of these little adventures and her companionship to, from, and on the water, have been a great blessing to me and I believe to her too. I look forward to many more adventures in 2013.

This past year has also taught me that the most important blessing I have in my life is family. I have come to realize that the greatest love is unconditional. While each of my children are different, I get to love them all unconditionally. It's still a learning process, as I sometimes feel disappointment when I feel that my children are not making it to the "summit" that I have in my view for them. The journey with them, however, is so enjoyable and brings joy into my life.

As a member of the LDS Church, our family has had the opportunity to send my two sons on missions for the Church in the past few years. Their missions were different and learning experiences for all of us. I love the fact that they made offerings to the Lord even though the experiences ended up being different than what we thought they might be. I can say that I have never had more emotional and spiritual feelings than I did with the return of my sons from their missions. Each of them had reached a "summit" in their lives and in so doing brought to our view as a family, the beauties of God.

I look forward to the lessons of 2013. Hopefully, I'll be able to get "out there" as much or more than I did this past year.

Thanks for following along with this blog. I hope you find some value in it. I might not be able to take you to every "summit", but I hope as I have learned, the journey always has value.