One Fire at a Time

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that in an isolated system, entropy (decay) tends to increase over time. Order leaks away. Structures relax. Neat stacks of this and that slide toward cosmic untidiness.

This is where I enter stage left. I love to contribute to the work of the Second Law of Thermodynamics by way of fire. At present, I am unwinding the universe daily inside my woodstove. My fires disassemble carefully fashioned chunks of tree and spread stored energy outward in the form of heat, light, and motion, all of which disperse into the room, up the chimney, into the sky, and eventually into the cosmos.

Good, destructive stuff.

At the same time, Desiree and I dry towels next to the stove. Bathed in heat, we piece together puzzles while exporting disorder through the stovepipe and leaving the distant stars to embrace the cold.

And don’t forget a sip of Cold Smoke beer for one more internal contribution to decay.

—Mitchell Hegman