There’s joy in arranging various sizes and types of wood both prior to and after striking the match. Wood and heat and air all have their qualities. To arrange things in such a way that heat engenders more heat is fun. Where should the next log go? Is the kindling fine enough? Dry enough? What will catch next? Does that thick smoke mean that something is heating up or cooling down? What can I do with this fire the way it’s burning now?
As the tender, there is joy in the dance. I don’t make wood burn — at temperature, it does that on its own. Yet I can arrange things in such a way that stuff happens. Business, relationships, music, visual arts, athletics, automobiles, gardening, etc. all offer similar opportunities to get on the dance floor with people, phenomenon, and materials.
I enjoy it anyway.