During my primary school years, I frequently had to start a fire for breakfast or to warm up my lunch. One of our regular activities was a competition to see who could light a fire and cook using only one matchstick. In the beginning, I would use approximately seven matchsticks before I could successfully light the fire. Although it was occasionally frustrating, it didn’t take long before I mastered the art of building a sizeable fire in a matter of minutes with only one matchstick.
To light a fire, you must begin with materials that ignite easily. My preferred starting material was fine wood shavings obtained from the carpenter’s hand scraper. I would light the shavings first, then layer thin, dry sticks on top of them, followed by thicker sticks and finally larger pieces of wood. The matchstick would ignite the fine shavings, which, in turn, would light the sticks, and the sticks would ignite the larger wood, providing enough heat to cook food.
The size of the fire depends on the quality, quantity, and type of wood. While wood shavings produce a big fire, they do not last long. Conversely, oak wood burns longer but does not create a large blaze. The amount of firewood determines the size of the fire, and dry wood burns better, resulting in more significant flames than wet wood. Ignorance is to expect a fire without firewood.
Our actions can be related to firewood, and the results can be compared to fire. Some actions, like wood shavings, give quick but short-lasting results. Others, like oak wood, do not provide immediate results but produce consistent outcomes over time. Wet and green wood does not burn well, while dry wood burns better, producing more significant flames. Acting wisely is akin to burning dry wood, while acting ignorantly is like burning green wet wood. Expecting results without action is like expecting fire without firewood. Many individuals expect something for nothing, but, in reality, there is no such thing as something for nothing.
Therefore, the firewood principle states that the size of fire is a function of the quality, quantity and type of wood and that there can be no fire where there is no firewood.
Whenever you think of a desired result, remember the process of building a fire and that the results we achieve are proportional to the quality, quantity, and type of actions we take.