I love fire ... now before you start fears of me being a pyromaniac let me explain. I enjoy a small candle flame. It is soothing and relaxes me. Just having a candle going seems to help the nerves and put the world back in the right order of things. I enjoy a campfire. I like sitting around and roasting marshmallows for 'smores. I like finding that perfect area in the fire for your hotdog where it cooks just right; not burned outside and not cold inside. I like watching how fire can clean things up: termite infested wood, garbage, scrub brush, and sticks. Fire reduces it all to the same common denominator. I enjoy just watching a camp fire, staring into the flames is mesmerizing for me and allows my thoughts to scamper down rabbit trails otherwise ignored. I enjoy a fireplace in my house, even though it's gas, it is soothing and adds an air of comfort and peace to the house. When it is cold outside and ice frames the panes of glass there is nothing better than a fire and a knit afghan to warm the heart.
A fire was started in a rental property I own. It wasn't for light or relaxation or even for cooking. It was a mistake and big problem. Thank God there was no loss of life, only loss of property and "stuff." It will take months to repair and mound of paperwork to push to get it back the way it was. People are suddenly without a home and many others are inconvenienced. Fire. How can something so soothing and peaceful become so violent and damaging?
That is the way with a lot of things in this world though isn't it? Alcohol and drugs are useful and good unless they get out of control they become a fire leaping out of the fireplace. Even things like eating and exercise can become a house fire if uncontained. Take a look at your life, at the things that you keep in your fireplace, and pay attention to their potential danger. Enjoy them but keep them in their place. I see too many people who have gotten burned by their out of control lives.