We just got back from a long weekend of camping, hiking and attending a high school graduation party. After getting set up at our first campground on Friday night, we took a little stroll around the grounds and passed a tent where a couple boys with their mom were camping (we met the dad later). We said hello and the boys came racing over to chat us up. One of them said cheerfully, “We’re homeless!” Their mom hastened to explain that they were tent camping while they were between homes. The boys were identical twins, 6 years old and just full of beans. When I told their mother that we also had twin boys, now 28 years old, she asked “Does it ever get any easier?” which made us laugh. We assured her that even with some of the challenges, our twins were a delight and a blessing, which I hope encouraged her. Meanwhile, the boys told us all about the campfire they were going to have and one of them, full of the milk of human kindness, even offered us a marshmallow. I really wanted to take a photo of them, but it seemed a little on the creepy stalker side, so I didn’t ask. When we walked back to our tent, we commented on how often you encounter really nice people when you’re camping. We also decided that when the guy from town came by selling firewood (which the boys also told us about), we’d decline – it was getting late and we just wanted to get into “bag” and go to sleep.
The guy came by with his pickup truck full of wood pieces about five minutes later and somehow the words “no thanks,” became “yes, please.” The allure of a cozy campfire is hard to turn down. Plus he had three young sons with him (ages 8-12 maybe?) all chomping at the bit to help their dad bring the wood over to our campfire. For $5 he gave us enough wood for three nights of campfires. When we told him what city we were from, he said, “I’ve taken wrestling teams down there!” His sons were very helpful and enthusiastic, which warmed our hearts.
Kris got busy cutting some kindling for the fire and then used all his campfire lore to get the fire going while I sat by in my winter coat admiring his handiwork (it was getting pretty cold by that time).
Eventually we had a decent fire going. Ahh…one of the creature comforts of camping. We sat quietly watching and listening to the fire, occasionally talking. A tamed fire is so beautiful and mesmerizing.
When it got late, we got out our Books of Common Prayer and did our Psalm reading for the evening.
It’s hard to think of a more perfect way to end the evening.
“I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart…”
Amen and amen.
I’ll probably delete this in the morning unless the embers of these words are still glowing.
Lynniebeemuseoday 