Extinguish the Fire, or Make it Rain

If the fire isn’t put out, people and planet suffer. If the food isn’t served, people go hunting.

When Reggie was a kid, he wanted to be a Fireman. He grew up to be a Chef.

Both professions play with fire. Both work environments are surrounded by heat, flooded with chaos, and demand quick-thinking in high-intensity situations; where you run on adrenaline if nothing else.

But, what does fire-fighting offer that chef-ing doesn’t? Serving the community?... Nope. Team-work?... Nope. Risking your life?... (to varying degrees)… but, Nope. Maybe it’s the emergency factor. If the fire isn’t put out, people and planet suffer. If the food isn’t served, people find it elsewhere. Since chef-ing lacked that extra level of stimulation, Reggie sought it elsewhere... Reggie grew up in a religious household. Religion is belief. But, it is intangible.

The highs from drinking and drugs are intangible.

Reggie's memories are only emotions; not images. They’re intangible too.

Reggie's hands hold the food he creates… but then it disappears into the mouths of others. Temporarily tangible.

His praise is short lived.

His grasp is temporary.

He wants to live wildly, but society has told him that the only ways to do that involve drugs and partying.

He wants to feel understood at a deeper level.

If only someone would force him to take a shovel and dig.

He is erratic because there are multiple prongs to his identity all fighting for the fresh air and sunlight above ground.

He has the past in his present; and uses it to distract himself and others from the fear of his future.

Because, if in the future, he remains misunderstood, he will suffer. And if he does find a way to thrive, he may be rejected or stomped on.

He wants to take risks in an intense, unforgiving environment, and be rewarded with the satisfaction of the thrill; yet he is actually re-instating calm.

That’s it!

Maybe he is actually chasing calm.

He is trying to restore harmony.

First, externally; but ultimately within.

Reggie didn’t want to become a fire-fighter due to a hunger for chaos. He wanted to extinguish the chaos.

Is it always best to reach for the extinguisher though?

What if we instead attempt to make it rain?

Create an even bigger, but gentler, form of chaos.

What if we stomp and dance, call for calm, and have faith in the clouds instead?