Campfire ban...

August 6, 2009

Because it's been such a weirdly dry summer this year, all of Vancouver Island is under a campfire ban. These bans happen quite a lot down at the central and southern parts of the island, usually by the end of July or so, but rarely does it happen up at the north end of the island. So when we went camping last weekend on the northern tip of the island at Cluxewe, we were affected too.

When we went there in June, we had a campfire practically our whole weekend long-- lots of S'mores, grilled sandwiches with our sandwich irons that you stick in the fire, and fire-roasted hot dogs.

Things were very different this last trip. We grilled our hot dogs on the barbeque, did the sandwich irons over the camp stove, and yes, our marshmallows, too. It was just not the same. As I unpacked our bags in front of the washing machine, there wasn't even that wonderful smoky smell to our worn clothes. Though we had a blast camping, our fire was an element of our trip that was sorely missed.

It's one thing to keep your campfire down for safety, but it's another to hide your fire for God, out of fear, or disobedience, or whatever. Sometimes I think I do. I pray that it becomes increasingly hard to keep down the light that God gives me to reflect His glory. I want to take the opportunities to share my story when I'm given it. I think too often I let those times go. But I want to be all about shining my light, to shine how good He's been to me. I even want my clothes to smell like it. :)

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:15