Just Sitting by the Campfire: Reflections on Being Human

Just Sitting by the Campfire: Reflections on Being Human

There’s something about the warmth of a campfire and the quiet crackle of wood breaking down into embers that pulls you into a deep sense of reflection. Tonight, as I sit by the fire and listen to Shinedown’s Symptom of Being Human, I’m struck by the rawness of the lyrics, how it connects with the struggle of just existing in this world. This song, with its vulnerability and honesty, speaks to the complexity of what it means to be human—and how often we are trying to navigate our way through feelings of inadequacy, confusion, and pain.

The truth is, we are all symptoms of something greater, something deeply spiritual and uniquely personal at the same time. Each one of us is walking through life with our own burdens, our own joys, and our own scars. And as I sit here by the fire, I can’t help but feel how the flickering flames mirror the way we, too, flicker between highs and lows, between hope and despair, between clarity and chaos.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend checking out Shinedown’s music video for Symptom of Being Human. It’s a powerful visual representation of the message behind the song. You can watch it here.

The Burden of Being Human

Shinedown’s song touches on the weight of feeling different, of carrying the emotional and mental load that can make us feel isolated. As Christians, we sometimes think we’re supposed to have it all together. We read Scripture, we go to church, we pray—and yet, we still feel broken, anxious, and confused. What then? Is it a lack of faith? Is it sin?

The answer is no. We were never promised a life without hardship, without struggle. In fact, Jesus Himself said, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Even knowing this, though, doesn’t erase the fact that we carry a daily burden simply by being human. It’s okay to not have it all figured out. It’s okay to have days where you feel like you’re barely holding on.

There’s a beautiful, liberating truth in acknowledging that our humanity isn’t a flaw to be fixed, but a reality to be embraced.

Embracing Our Fragility

Sitting here in the stillness of the night, with nothing but the glow of the fire and the haunting melody of Symptom of Being Human in the background, I’m reminded that fragility is a part of the design. God created us to feel deeply, to experience pain, and to wrestle with the unknown. It’s in our fragility that we come to see the strength of God’s grace.

Scripture shows us over and over again that God works through the weak, the broken, and the fragile. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” It’s a verse we’ve heard countless times, but have we truly embraced what it means? Our weakness isn’t something we have to overcome on our own. Instead, it’s where God meets us the most powerfully, where He holds us up when we feel like we’re about to fall apart.

Sitting by the fire, it’s easy to see how fragile it is—how one gust of wind or a splash of water could snuff it out. And yet, it burns. It persists. Just like us. We may feel fragile, but we are not without strength. Our strength comes from God, who continually breathes life into our weary souls.

Finding Peace in the Struggle

There’s a certain peace that comes from recognizing that we don’t have to carry the burden of our humanity alone. As the song plays and the flames dance, I think about how often I’ve tried to fix myself—tried to be better, stronger, more faithful. But maybe the real healing comes when we stop trying so hard to fix everything and instead lean into God’s presence, His love, and His peace.

Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It’s a peace that doesn’t always make sense. It’s a peace that can sit with you even when you’re feeling like a mess, like a “symptom of being human.” It’s a peace that says, “You’re not alone. I’m here with you in this moment, in this pain, in this confusion.”

There’s comfort in knowing that we don’t have to be perfect to be loved by God. We don’t have to have it all together to be valuable in His eyes. He sees us, knows us, and loves us exactly as we are. And in those moments when we feel the weight of being human, He is there, whispering to our souls, “You are mine. You are enough.”

The Fire of Hope

As I watch the flames flicker and feel the warmth radiating from the fire, I’m reminded that even in our darkest moments, there’s always hope. The fire of God’s love burns within us, even when we can’t always feel it. It’s there, sustaining us, reminding us that we are more than our struggles, more than our doubts, more than our failures.

In Symptom of Being Human, Shinedown captures the essence of what it means to wrestle with our identity, our pain, and our place in the world. But as Christians, we have the added assurance that no matter how lost we feel, no matter how heavy the burden of being human becomes, we are never alone. God is with us in every moment, in every breath, in every tear.

So, as I sit here by the campfire, I choose to embrace the beauty of being human, with all its messiness and fragility. I choose to rest in the truth that God’s grace is enough, that His peace is beyond understanding, and that His love is the fire that will never go out.

Reflection Questions:

1. When was the last time you felt the weight of being human? How did you handle it?

2. In what ways do you struggle with feeling like you need to have it all together?

3. How can you invite God’s peace into your life today, even in the midst of your struggles?