Instead of huddling around an open fire and roasting marshmallows, here in Asia we use open fires for daily cooking. Grilled fish, steamed rice, barbecued chicken, and noodle soup are a few of the things cooked over open fires. Sometimes while I bike down back alleys, I will see mothers and little old grandmothers stirring steaming pots or turning roasting meat. Wood and charcoal are used to keep the fires at the right height and when all cooking is finished, water is sometimes poured over the fire to put it out.I once heard a saying that went something like this:
When there's a fire, some people bring wood and some people bring water.
This could be applied in the literal sense but it is really talking about how we deal with tension in our day to day lives. When there is a problem, a tense situation, an opportunity to gossip, a chance to annoy or frustrate someone we don't like, what do we do? Do we bring wood? Do we increase the tension? Forget to think before we speak, or take the opportunity to add a negative word or action? Or do we bring water? Do we think and pray before tackling the situation? Refuse to destroy a person's reputation through gossip, or take the chance to purposefully do something nice for someone we dislike?
We are told that "blessed are the peacemakers." This week try to be a peacemaker. Bring the water. Put the fires out! Everyone knows how much damage fire has the potential to do. It can burn down buildings, obliterate forests, and worse even kill people. When there is disagreement or tension between people, it has the potential to burn down relationships and obliterate friendships. Bring the water! Put the fires out!
