One of the purchases that we want to make when I return and we get settled into a new home is a fire pit. There is something wonderful about a fire pit that, as I get older, I have really found to be a blessing.
I first experienced a fire pit in Iraq, where Soldiers would gather around a makeshift pit and burn old broken wood. Many times, we would sit for hours talking and joking and enjoying the conversation. When we moved to Fort Leavenworth, our neighbors would hold fire pits often and Monica and I would join them from time to time and sit until late just talking and enjoying each the fellowship of our neighbors.
The benefits of a fire pit are so simple that it is amazing to me that we need a fire pit at all, but there is something about a fire that draws people out to talk. One would think that you could sit and just chat anywhere. True, but no one does. If they have a party in their house there is music, television, or something else happening that prevents good solid conversation. The fire pit breaks those down and allows you to just sit and talk. It also allows you to be quiet and just watch the flames.
As our kids get older, I want to be able to sit and talk with them more. Yes, we can talk while doing other things, and I look forward to doing that. But, it is nice to have time where all you do is talk, or even all you do is sit quiet and stare at the fire. I have found the fire pit to be one of the safest places to be yourself and get to know your friends and family.
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Photo from Unsplash.com
Keith Andrews says
Rodney, you are absolutely right! Atmosphere is the key. It is so easy to create it if we will just take the extra step.
Thank you for saying hello!
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Rodney Olsen says
Amazing how simple things like a cup of coffee, a good meal or a fire pit can create such great conversations.
We can talk at any time, but true dialogue usually happens when we’re able to create the right atmosphere. Even though it doesn’t take much to create that atmosphere, we often fail to be intentional about making it happen.