| June 8th, 2009
One-Match Fire One match to rule them all . . .  In one of my first survival classes, we took the one-match fire challenge. The idea is to properly build a fire so that a single match, strategically placed, will send your pile roaring into flames. With some knowledge of fire-building this isn't a difficult task. But the other day, Rebecca and I took the challenge one step further. It had been raining all day, and as evening was darkening the skies we went out to take the One-Match-In-The-Dark-And-Rain fire challenge. We gave ourselves a few other handicaps, including banning the use of birch-bark (which would have made things entirely too easy). Then we both spent some time putting together our fires. Now, I began my wilderness survival training when I was sixteen. Since then, I've spent a lot of time in the woods, and it's pretty safe to say that Rebecca learned all her woods-skills from me. So it was a bit odd that after a few minutes, she had a small fire licking up into the raindrops, while I was still building mine. No matter. I knew that when I set my match to the pile, it would puff up in a ball of flame, and I'd impress her with my expertise. Satisfied with my pile, I lit my first match, set it
to the tinder, and watched as my tinder, too damp to catch flame, fizzled
out. Total failure. I've just finished reading Deep Survival by
Laurence Gonzales. In it, he shows how even the most experienced
wilderness enthusiasts can make fatal mistakes due to overconfidence.
My one-match-in-the-dark-and-rain fire experience was a case-in-point, and
this lesson runs through all of life. When we meet challenges with
humility and curiosity, we often discover opportunities that are hidden
from us when we otherwise approach situations with a 'Rambo' mentality.
Sitting around Rebecca's fire, I asked her how she had so easily started a
blaze, and she led me through the woods to show me some of the ingenious
ways she had gathered materials. Following my former 'student', I
learned some valuable lessons, and I feel a lot better about my chances of
success next time around. Most of all, I was reminded that we're all
forever students -- our growth ends only when we consider ourselves
masters of our art.
|
Admitting
defeat, I decided that instead, I'd just try to start an
In-The-Dark-And-Rain fire, still a decent challenge. I gathered some
additional materials, re-built the fire, lit my match, held it to the
tinder, and managed to create a small coal. I blew and blew, choking
on smoke, while Rebecca watched placidly from her warm camp-fire. My
third match was instantly extinguished during an unfortunate collision
with a rain-drop. More matches followed, and my failures racked up.
At last I had to admit complete defeat, and I went over to Rebecca's fire
to warm my hands. She was very gracious.