
It’s happening again.
The US West is again burning down. As we suspected it would.

Forest fires are a given in the wild western mountainous regions and the foothills thereof. In the dry months of summer we have seen great swaths of our homeland swept away and melted to the ground in flames.
What is chilling is the details. Like the little squirrely curlicues in the artwork above, there is death under all the “fireworks.” Miniature death and large death. The story above (San Luis Obispo) was out today about a Boy Scout Camp burning up with a loss of captive animals for their sanctuary. No Boy Scouts were injured, but it is only because modern machinery came and evacuated them from the cauldron in time.
I cannot think for long about this stuff. I used to suffer inside thinking of Joan of Arc being burned at the stake. What comfort is there in that? The horror of fire has been with us since the beginning.
FLOODS AND FIRES:
We are warned in the Scriptures by the story of Noah and all that water.
We are warned further that we will not be flooded out entirely ever again (the proof being the rainbow, according to the story.) But Scripture also warns us that our world will be wiped out by fire instead. (click on inset below for ref.)

I don’t know about you, but the very notion of fire (in the “fire and brimstone” sermon type of fire) is unimaginable. But what of the creatures who have already had that experience? It is (WAS) very real to them. People in burning buildings who find it impossible to escape. People who are like frightened deer with nowhere to run. People who jump out of windows of tall buildings because they cannot stand the pain.
The reality spelled out to us in news like this becomes like fiction, doesn’t it? We cannot bear to face it. It is the stuff of special effects — we love fires in movies. We have horrendous murderous fires all the time in dreamed-up computer games and in real-life “other countries.” It’s like a fairy tale, isn’t it?
I am certainly not someone who wants to scare the hell out of everybody, and break us all down with fear and trembling, immobilizing us with terror, and rendering us sitting ducks.
But I want myself to stay cognizant about the very reality of fiery destruction right here on planet earth in our town. It is not la la land. Have I had a worthwhile day today? In my own waking hours, what has counted? I know I watched a baseball game. (doesn’t count.) I got worried about some work I need to do. (doesn’t count.) I wrote a friend a letter. (does count.) I took a nap. (might or might not count, depending on how much of it was need and how much laziness.) Have I made some progress? I hope so, because, at 79, I’m counting my days backward. Getting old teaches you that if you think about it a bit.
I say, get real about the life you have. Freedom to breathe may be gone in an instant! We are toast, but for the grace of God.
Thanking God for grace. Praying for those confronted with fires. Puzzling why we think we are beyond needing these thoughts and prayers.
Here’s something that made me a sober-sides this day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU-RuR-qO4Y
©SGHolland 2017

