Sitting by a campfire with friends last weekend, we observed a group of what looked to be 18- or 19-year-olds at a nearby campsite attempting to build a fire.
They had only twigs and a few small limbs they’d scrounged from the surrounding area. Apparently, the group missed the notice from the campground indicating they were out of firewood for the season. If you want a fire; bring your own (approved) wood, the notice warns.
The view from our cozy fire was admittedly entertaining.
We watched the youngsters problem solve to create a source of light and heat – not to mention a mechanism for cooking.
To their credit, tempers never flared. They worked together. One person tended the tiny flames while others fanned out to secure more twigs and occasionally an actual ‘stick’-sized piece of wood.
We sat rooting for their success and chucking at their antics from about 25 yards away.
After a bit, their fire waning and their meager fuel gone, the group set off deeper into the woods to scavenge for additional wood.
While they were gone, we took firewood from our own supply and stacked it at the base of their firepit. Scampering back to our own campsite, we awaited the group’s return to enjoy their reaction.
Back with only a few twigs for their scavenging efforts, the kids whooped with delight when they saw the pile of hefty split logs stacked neatly ready for their fire.
It was fun to hear them trying to guess from where this bounty had come.
We sat stealthily watching them from afar. Enjoying the pleasure our anonymous random act of kindness produced.
However, it didn’t take long to realize that a supply of split wood wasn’t going to be enough to solve their campfire-deficit issues. Their supply of twigs and a few scraps of paper weren’t enough to set the hefty logs ablaze.
Small flames quickly dissolved to puffs of smoke and still no roaring fire. More twig and dry leaf hunting and jovial teamwork trying to start their fire, all to no avail.
While we were enjoying their antics, we decided to fess up to being their anonymous wood-supplier, and bring them kindling and paper to really get their campfire going.
Which is when it really got fun.
The kids were college freshmen from the Detroit area. A simply delightful group of young people. Excited to be freed from class for a long fall-break, they’d packed up their mountain bikes, skateboards and a tent and headed for the woods on the west side of the state. The camping trip, they said, was a first for most of them and they were having a ball despite their lack of planning.
Their exuberance for adventure was contagious. Generosity is apparently also contagious.