The Bonfire Sessions

Being by nature an introvert, I don’t necessarily like to go to parties. I love people, I just don’t want to be around them all the time. I love listening to someone process their trauma and find solutions through modalities like focusing, but casual conversation hasn’t always been something that I aspired to.

So, when I went to parties and social events, I usually would introduce two of my friends to each other and listen to them talk. For whatever reason, I took great delight in this listening to a conversation. Maybe, it’s the reason we like podcasts so much – they are like a conversation we are listening in on. I’ll leave it to the experts to determine why – I just know I like it.

Recently, I was introduced to a series of conversations called The Bonfire Sessions. These conversations are recorded in “booklets” named after the seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Matthew J. Dsitefano and Michael Machuga are a product of the rare exception on social media when a disagreement turns into a friendship. Somehow, they found respect for each other now enjoy these honest and thought-provoking conversations. It is a podcast, it is a booklet—but more importantly, it’s a friendship and a conversation.

The good thing about when two friends talk is that their conversations usually drift toward authenticity and honesty. If I am talking to a stranger, I would be much less apt to talk about things that really matter, because I don’t want to struggle with someone that I don’t really have an investment in. But friends are much more honest and explore the deeper subjects because they have a trust for each other. The bonus for us is when we get to listen in.

That is the beauty of The Bonfire Sessions.

Matthew and Michael cover a wide variety of topics in this series of booklets. Their language is adult like the beverages they consume as they talk. The topics cover such things as suffering and their individual faith journeys. Because they are not trying to necessarily convince each other of anything, it is just a beautiful transparent journey between two great people.

The booklets are published by Quoir and available right now on Amazon for 99 cents. You heard me right! Start with Spring but buy all three for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

I often say that I appreciate that I have smart friends. But, realistically, my friends are not necessarily that much smarter than anyone else. However, when I listen to them with a focus, it always benefits me because I hear what I normally would not hear. When I’m really listening, I am not trying to win an argument and I’m not threatened by whatever they believe.

This is the experience of The Bonfire Sessions!

I hope you will lean in and listen and be blessed!

Be where you are, be who you are, be at peace,

Karl Forehand