In the beginning there was smoke and fire.

In an earlier post to the "grilling initiate" I wrote that humiliating failure can be turned into "the spur that drives to success." I dug through our archive to find these photos from New Year's Eve, 2005. These photos record the beginning of my story.

The event of record is my first romantic get-away with Becky to Devils Den state park, before we were married. The more I "self-medicated" with beer (as Becky put it) the smokier the cabin became. (I had no garden, you see.) I finally gave up. These photos are hard for me. The story of my humiliating inability to handle fire was a favorite one for Becky to tell and re-tell our friends. The friends told more friends and my reputation began to proceed me. I admit it - this reputation was deserved.

I knew this was the big opportunity for which I had cried out for. I decided to use this humiliation and failure to master fire making. First, I convinced Becky to marry me. Next we got this house which then had a wood-burning fireplace. I built my own grill out back. We invited family and friends. I taught myself, I learned, the art of a good fire. It is all about being in love and sharing hospitality.

I am the only one now who brings up the "Smoke Filled Cabin at Devils Den" story. "They" don't make fun any more. Now they call me the "Grill Master".

To the "Grilling Initiate" - It is love that gives the wisdom, and the ability to strengthen weakness. The garden is a good place to exercise this lifelong transformation.