Patience is the key to building a good campfire.
At the first sign of a spark, it is tempting to heap on the fuel: wet or dry, the more the better.
But a fire needs to breathe.
And so we build the fire slowly, adding a few logs, then backing off and creating space for air to reach the coals. Tending it, ever mindful of its needs.
Same for the fire burning inside each of us:
Tend it patiently and with care, and the coals will last through the cold night.
On the other hand, if we add fuel too quickly, the fire suffocates.
The Daily Nugget 