There's nothing like a fire to remind you of what's important in life.
San Diego county is engulfed in either flames, smoke, ash, or all three tonight. This isn't the first time this has happened. We went through very similar conditions almost 4 years ago to the day. The biggest difference is that last time, Santee was encircled by flames and covered in at least an inch of ash. Santa Ana winds and drought conditions make a perfect scenario for this mess. I have to admit to being a "nervous Nellie" yesterday, something I rarely feel, much less acknowledge. I didn't really get peace until I loaded up boxes of dry/canned food and left them by the door, ready to throw into the trailer for an immediate escape. We hooked the trailer up to the car at 9:00 last night...just in case. Now, today I find myself in a circle of almost clear air and no wind...something I imagine being in the eye of a hurricane must look and feel like. Kind of eerie...yet not. The rest of the county is inflamed. I am thankful to be prepared (almost), but even more thankful that I am the one making calls to see if my friends/family/Bible Study ladies are ok, instead of being the one in the path of destruction this time. I don't know why the winds blow the way they do, I don't know why one house goes up in smoke and one across the street doesn't. It isn't for me to know. It is for me to pray. To trust God. To offer any comfort and hope I have. To offer my goods to those in need, when called upon, to the best of my ability.
What I am finding, is down time. We are conserving electricity because SDG&E has cautioned us that we are short 40% of our normal supply lines. We are conserving cell phone usage so the emergency services get priority time. We are conserving energy, since going outside can really mess up your breathing. So...what are we doing? We are keeping each other company. We are praying. Faith is busy rediscovering friendships, and cementing a new one with the neighbor across the street. We turned a bedroom into a haven for girls and had a sleepover last night. We had a pedicure party in the living room. We are rediscoving the joy of conversation. We are realizing, again, what a blessed people we are.
I was watching the news yesterday, and one of the primary newscasters was watching his house finish burning to the ground. A home he had lived in for more than 25 years. I found it most remarkable that, while watching, he was realizing (partly) his loss, but kept commenting from the heart how happy he was that his family was safe. He truly had his priorities in the right place. His heart was sad..of course! But his life wasn't over. And believe me, that wasn't what others were saying. I heard one fool state his great loss over his favorite television set. I heard elderly people at Qualcomm stadium rejoicing over the comfortable sleeping bags they had, the abundance of food they were fed, and the overwhelming kindness of strangers. I heard today that they had to turn away the over-abundance of donations from individuals at the stadium. People are giving all they have for the needs of others. Churches have turned their properties into homes. Mall parking lots are housing horses, zebras, and donkeys. Hotels are sending chef-created hot meals to shelters. Off-duty medical personnel are ministering in abundance.
God is still on His throne. He's given us the opportunity to re-evaluate our prorities, our abundance, and His place in our lives. Our deep need for eternal hope and permanence, because one day all this will be gone. For good. May we be found sharing the gospel - the good news that never fails!
San Diego county is engulfed in either flames, smoke, ash, or all three tonight. This isn't the first time this has happened. We went through very similar conditions almost 4 years ago to the day. The biggest difference is that last time, Santee was encircled by flames and covered in at least an inch of ash. Santa Ana winds and drought conditions make a perfect scenario for this mess. I have to admit to being a "nervous Nellie" yesterday, something I rarely feel, much less acknowledge. I didn't really get peace until I loaded up boxes of dry/canned food and left them by the door, ready to throw into the trailer for an immediate escape. We hooked the trailer up to the car at 9:00 last night...just in case. Now, today I find myself in a circle of almost clear air and no wind...something I imagine being in the eye of a hurricane must look and feel like. Kind of eerie...yet not. The rest of the county is inflamed. I am thankful to be prepared (almost), but even more thankful that I am the one making calls to see if my friends/family/Bible Study ladies are ok, instead of being the one in the path of destruction this time. I don't know why the winds blow the way they do, I don't know why one house goes up in smoke and one across the street doesn't. It isn't for me to know. It is for me to pray. To trust God. To offer any comfort and hope I have. To offer my goods to those in need, when called upon, to the best of my ability.
What I am finding, is down time. We are conserving electricity because SDG&E has cautioned us that we are short 40% of our normal supply lines. We are conserving cell phone usage so the emergency services get priority time. We are conserving energy, since going outside can really mess up your breathing. So...what are we doing? We are keeping each other company. We are praying. Faith is busy rediscovering friendships, and cementing a new one with the neighbor across the street. We turned a bedroom into a haven for girls and had a sleepover last night. We had a pedicure party in the living room. We are rediscoving the joy of conversation. We are realizing, again, what a blessed people we are.
I was watching the news yesterday, and one of the primary newscasters was watching his house finish burning to the ground. A home he had lived in for more than 25 years. I found it most remarkable that, while watching, he was realizing (partly) his loss, but kept commenting from the heart how happy he was that his family was safe. He truly had his priorities in the right place. His heart was sad..of course! But his life wasn't over. And believe me, that wasn't what others were saying. I heard one fool state his great loss over his favorite television set. I heard elderly people at Qualcomm stadium rejoicing over the comfortable sleeping bags they had, the abundance of food they were fed, and the overwhelming kindness of strangers. I heard today that they had to turn away the over-abundance of donations from individuals at the stadium. People are giving all they have for the needs of others. Churches have turned their properties into homes. Mall parking lots are housing horses, zebras, and donkeys. Hotels are sending chef-created hot meals to shelters. Off-duty medical personnel are ministering in abundance.
God is still on His throne. He's given us the opportunity to re-evaluate our prorities, our abundance, and His place in our lives. Our deep need for eternal hope and permanence, because one day all this will be gone. For good. May we be found sharing the gospel - the good news that never fails!
3 comments:
Amen sister!
You have an amazing ability to write so well. We have so much to be thankful for even in the middle crisis.
I also got to spend some extra time with friends and family, which was very nice. It was awesome to see people coming together during a time of great need. Nothing like a bunch of fires to bring people together and make you thankful for what you have.
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