Setting Woodpiles on Fire
Sometimes instead of passively waiting around for life to change or improve by chance, luck, or the circumstantial actions of others; you really should consider creating the disruption—the change— you desperately crave and need YOURSELF. Perhaps its time to consider setting the woodpile on fire? The downside is that an object in motion tends to stay in motion, so once you commit there ain’t no going back [isn’t’ that what commitment really means anyway?]. And the upside? Well…its the same with a twist…once you commit or “set the woodpile on fire”, there ain’t no going back. Taking action, even imperfectly, is often the spark needed to set life in motion again, and a life in motion is so much better than a life (or death as it were) in suspended animation.
When I was a kid, we had epic bonfires at the old home-place. Sort of a traditional way of getting rid of the woody debris after cutting and clearing underbrush on the land with my dad (although he did all the work while I explored). My Dad taught me (and of course it was validated by experience) that when you burned the piles, the residents would flee the flames into the perimeter (normally where you would be standing and watching). Once you started the fire, there was no telling where exactly the flames or critters might go! But one thing was for sure…once it started it was gonna burn until the pile was gone and it might have meant death for anything to scared to run. At the end of the burn, the brush was gone, the critters fleet of foot or scale had found new places to live, and we humans had a fresh and unobstructed view of the landscape around us.
The same could be said of the woody residue inside us that needs to be dealt with. Intentionally setting in motion disruptions in ourselves (or our circumstances) that reveal what is hidden within us (and perhaps others), allows us to deal with our discoveries in life-giving ways rather than repress them in piles to decay and disappear. Regret is an impossible master. Further, sometimes a fire is required to refresh our perspectives (to replenish nutrients in the soul)… Its hard to fight an enemy you can’t see in the thicket, love someone the way they need to be loved, or tear through briars when you need to gain ground towards your purpose.
Our shadow places (our woodpiles) often hide critters that we really should deal with; impure motives, hidden fears, or obsolete beliefs— about ourselves and others. It also has equal potential to expose our own (and others) untapped skills, talents, or super powers (as the saying goes “trial by fire”); or I like this; sorting the chaff from the grain within you. But a word of sobriety; setting woodpiles on fire means you’ve got to be ready to deal with whatever runs out when you strike the match… cause, once the fire is started, there ain’t no going back.
This October, consider starting a fire of your own. The weather is right and the season of change is already upon us (its 2020, right?). You’ll be glad you did and… there is nothing quite so pleasant as the warmth of a fire on a crisp fall evening surrounded by those you love!