Even though I'm not one of those girls who particularly likes being around a campfire, (the smell lingers in your clothing for days), I have to admit there's something special about gathering around with your closest friends and having a good ole' fashioned conversation.
When I studied in England for a year there was a group of kids who would sneak out of the castle every once in a while and have a bonfire. A few times they were caught and punishments ensued... But the majority of the time they were able to get away with it.
Second trimester I came down with Mono while at school. I was miserable. I couldn't eat because my throat was too sore, I missed around 3 weeks of school, only got out of bed to shower, slept 18-22 hours a day, and ended up losing 25 pounds. I was at the lowest of lows.
One night my roommate was heading out to a bonfire. I was wide awake since I had slept so much that day. I had finished the papers that were due for the next 3 weeks, exhausted all my preloaded Pinterest pages (since the internet turned off at 11), and had written dozens of letters. I still felt like crap, but I decided "What the heck, why not ask to go along?"
This was groundbreaking for me. I am not a rebellious person by any means.
She gladly let me come along with her as we made our way around buildings, over fences, and through the woods. It was my first time out of my room in at least a week, and I was breaking the rules of curfew. I was absolutely terrified.
Gathered around a tiny little fire were over a dozen people from school, not the usual crowd I hung out with, but friends none the less. They were laughing, passing around German candy, and having heart to hearts with each other.
After a few minutes one of the guys said that we should each share something, a prayer request or a praise, a thought, comment, or encouraging verse.
We went around and everyone shared something, and when it got to me everything went silent. They hadn't really noticed me when I joined and were shocked to see me after so many weeks.
I explained that I was sick and had been in and out of the hospital for blood tests. The Doctors didn't know what was wrong with me, even though a phone consultation with my Primary Doctor in the States confirmed I had Mono. I explained how it was one of the toughest times in my life, not knowing if I was going to get better, being constantly hungry but not able to eat, and being lonely all the time since I was stuck in bed as everyone was away in lecture.
After I shared the guy who had initiated the conversation volunteered to pray for me. It ended up that quite a few people prayed for me, and we ended up singing worship songs afterwards.
That night I returned back to my room feeling better than I had in a month. Getting outing the fresh air was one thing, but the community and the deep conversations I had around that campfire rejuvenated me.
Days passed, eventually I healed up, but I didn't return to any more fires. Kids kept sneaking out to bonfires, some were caught, and the school came down hard when they enforced the rules.
I had to laugh to myself. The school thought everyone was sneaking out and getting into mischief. I understand rules are there for a reason, but these rule breakers were so innocent. We gathered around a campfire and prayer for each other. We gathered around a campfire and encouraged each other. We gathered around a campfire and had some of the best conversations ever.
