The Fire of Life

“What sets you on fire?” Dave asks his best friend Ben this question in a garage full of memories of a passionate young man. His guitar, his surfboard, his passion for cooking—all now merely fragments of a former life. They lie there like exhibits in a museum. You look at them, read the accompanying exhibition text, perhaps think to yourself, aha, so that is how it was. Or you simply admire them and—just move on. After all, far more important things are waiting outside: work, status, appointments, business, family, many, far too many things you are expected to attend to, otherwise you are out—excluded from the community, denied recognition.

As Bob puts it so beautifully here, we have many little fires to tend. But in most lives, there is the word MUST. There is no CAN, or MAYBE, not even a NO anymore. The outside world smothers our inner world, and we no longer even notice.

On his way out of prison, Ben visits his old friend Bob, who still runs a campsite by the sea. Their friendship has not suffered during their long separation, and they can seamlessly rekindle their former deep connection. Bob tells him how he found himself through campfires.

Keeping 6 campfires burning at once (each representing an area of his life) was an unusual experiment, yet it held such power for profound experiences. Only by consciously experiencing stress, pain, despair and this enormous effort, which stifled all joy before it could emerge, did Bob realise what truly mattered in his life. He then changed direction, gratefully letting go of all the people in his life who did not support him—the so-called fire extinguishers.

From then on, he was able to pass on this authentic yes to life to people who were struggling, reaching more hearts than any self-help guide on the bookshelf. With him, there is no “you must”, but rather an “I feel”.

People discover their fire only after they themselves have almost gone out. They are revived by a splash of ice-cold water. Some people survive, and very few then truly live with their own unique fire of life. I feel that the author can speak to the reader's soul here. The story can penetrate deep layers of ash, reaching the tiny spark that is still clinging to life with the last of its strength. Here he breathes in courage and strength. The courage to fight for yourself again and once more become a great, nurturing fire.

Perhaps some readers will manage to rediscover their lives without first veering off the road. The right signposts can be found here in this book.

Let me be the one to encourage you: take the book, find a lovely place to read, pour a lovely glass of wine and immerse yourself in words that can uncover your true life and open your heart.

This first step is very easy; your soul will show you all the others. Trust it—it knows the way.