Today I’m thankful for the smell of a backyard fire.

11.7.2021

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Walking out of church tonight I smelled it. Someone in the neighborhood must have had a fire burning in their backyard. I love that smell! I associate it with good conversation, sweatshirt weather, fresh air, and the deep, reflective thoughts that seem to flow freely when poking at the dying embers at the tail end of a fire.

This past year I built myself a little fire pit area in my backyard. I’m really proud of it. A lot of sweat (and a fair number of tears) went into transforming my backyard and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how it turned out. I love being out there, especially now that the weather is finally starting to cool off in Phoenix.

So tonight when I smelled the fire pit smell in the church parking lot, I had the strong desire to go home and build a fire of my own. By the time I got home, though, I had talked myself out of it. I typically only have fires when people are over and it seemed a bit extravagant to build a fire just for myself. Plus, it’s Sunday night. I should be doing things to prepare for the upcoming week, right?

But, as I changed out of my church clothes I found myself reaching for a hoodie. That’s all it took to change my mind about the fire. I mean, why not have a fire just for myself? And honestly, a relaxing night spent outside staring at a fire sounds like a perfectly good way to prepare for a busy week ahead. A clear head and a calm spirit will benefit me far more this week than laying out my clothes or pre-packing my lunch.

So, I built myself a beautiful fire. I soaked in some quiet time, just sitting and breathing the fresh cool air. I called a friend and enjoyed some good conversation. And then I poked the embers and let the deep thoughts flow.

I just now came inside, and as I type this post I’m still enjoying the lingering smell of the fire that’s hanging on my clothes. This is just what I needed tonight. I’m thankful for the person near my church whose fire gave me this fantastic idea. And I’m thankful I didn’t talk myself out of it. It was a perfect end to the weekend.