Campfire

I built a fire last night in the backyard and sat by it alone, thinking. I enjoy these moments. They give me a chance to process my day, enjoy life in the moment, and dream about the future. As I was sitting next to the fire, I was paying close attention to the way the logs would catch fire. If the logs were too close together, the flames would die down because of a lack of oxygen and an inability to experience the world with a little independence. If they were too spread out, the flames would be extinguished from lack of mutual encouragement with the other logs. It was as though the logs needed each other to stay warm but they needed enough room and space for the oxygen to bring fresh fire.

I think there is a lesson we can learn from the campfire in regards to Christian community. We dare not spread too far apart from one another lest we lose the heat of a friend when we need it most. However, we dare not keep each other so close in our control, in our power, that we deny the Holy Spirit room to ignite life into the hearts of those that are ready to burn in ways we do not yet understand.

Is there anyone in your life that you are holding too closely? Anyone that you may need to let loose of just a little so that they can experience the fire of God a little more? Is there anyone in your church that may be extinguished if they are not given the room to be a part of a fresh move of the Holy Spirit, somewhat independently of you?

Planting churches often means, unselfishly, letting go of people so they can be used by God in ways that may not seem to directly benefit us. However, I noticed during my campfire last night that every time a log was given the chance to experience the fire in a new way, it always seemed to ignite the log that was originally holding it too close.