FIRE
Day after day the story plays out on our news feeds and TV screens. Charred skeletons of beloved homes. Desperate homeowners endangering their lives as they hose down their burning roofs. Emergency workers carefully carrying a body bag out of the rubble. Firefighters working without a break to battle the flames. An American flag in blackened tatters. The images arriving in the wake of the wind-driven wildfires in Los Angeles County are haunting, giving all of us a window into the pain, grief and devastation facing hundreds of thousands of people.
The death toll stands at 24 with more expected when search teams begin their work. The fires have swallowed up whole neighborhoods, destroying over 12,000 homes, schools and businesses. 92,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate for their safety, with another 90,000 encouraged to do the same. The fires have burned over 40,000 acres- an area larger than the city of San Francisco. Aerial photos show apocalyptic devastation. Last night, the Santa Ana winds (some call them ‘devil winds’) picked up again, spurring the fires on to ravage more of the county, with no end in sight.
Over the last several years, we have seen the devastation of so many natural and man-made disasters on our news feeds. Hurricanes… floods… tornadoes… drought- famine… war. Lives lost. Families displaced. Homes destroyed. Communities devastated. It has been heartbreaking to watch the hurting in Florida, Israel-Gaza, Ashville, Ukraine, Maui… and now LA. So, we pray. We send a donation. And then we turn the channel and move on, while they are still in that reality long after we have turned our attention to other things.
But this time I cannot look away, because this time it is rather personal. My daughter, son-in-law, and their newborn child live in the shadow (and smoke) of the Eaton Canyon fire. As I write, they have evacuated to our son-in-law’s family home an hour inland. Thankfully, a highway stands between our daughter’s house and the flames. Interstate 210 seems like a substantial barrier, but the 100 mph Santa Ana gusts have been known to cause fire to leap across highways. For now, they believe their house is safe. But their community is devastated. So many find themselves without a home in a region that already has a significant housing shortage. We are thankful that our daughter’s family is safe, but many of their neighbors have nowhere to go.
These fires in LA are a study in contrast, a dichotomy of extremes. Looters slip in to steal from evacuated homes, while first responders risk their lives to fight the fires even while their own homes burn. Some are jacking up the price of the few remaining properties, others have opened their homes to offer refuge to those who have lost everything. Some blame God, others are bowed in prayer. Some have circled the wagons to protect me and mine, others are asking “How can I help?” Some are creating division by pointing a finger of blame, others have called the community to work together. Recently, some have vilified our neighbors to the north (Canada) and south (Mexico), yet our neighbors still sent firefighters to stand with ours on the front lines. These moments either bring out the worst or the best in all of us. Yet, the flames know no difference. They devour indiscriminately mansion and shack, rich and poor, privileged and unhoused, famous and ‘regular Joe.’ Our hearts are broken for all of them.
Our Mission team met last night. The conversation focused on Jesus’ call to feed the hungry. Without specific reference, the parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25 moved and shaped the decisions made by the team. As they sought to wisely steward the resources of our faith community, the question was simple- Are they hungry? The response- We must feed them. Today, some of our LVC mission monies will be sent to LA to support the work of the World Central Kitchen that is feeding first responders and residents who have lost their homes. We invite you to join with your church in that outreach. Then on February 9 th, stay after worship to pack 25,000 meals. Those meals will feed hungry school children halfway around the world. Bring friends! Share the joy of being part of what God is doing in the world. Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”
With you putting on a chef’s hat,
Anita
The death toll stands at 24 with more expected when search teams begin their work. The fires have swallowed up whole neighborhoods, destroying over 12,000 homes, schools and businesses. 92,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate for their safety, with another 90,000 encouraged to do the same. The fires have burned over 40,000 acres- an area larger than the city of San Francisco. Aerial photos show apocalyptic devastation. Last night, the Santa Ana winds (some call them ‘devil winds’) picked up again, spurring the fires on to ravage more of the county, with no end in sight.
Over the last several years, we have seen the devastation of so many natural and man-made disasters on our news feeds. Hurricanes… floods… tornadoes… drought- famine… war. Lives lost. Families displaced. Homes destroyed. Communities devastated. It has been heartbreaking to watch the hurting in Florida, Israel-Gaza, Ashville, Ukraine, Maui… and now LA. So, we pray. We send a donation. And then we turn the channel and move on, while they are still in that reality long after we have turned our attention to other things.
But this time I cannot look away, because this time it is rather personal. My daughter, son-in-law, and their newborn child live in the shadow (and smoke) of the Eaton Canyon fire. As I write, they have evacuated to our son-in-law’s family home an hour inland. Thankfully, a highway stands between our daughter’s house and the flames. Interstate 210 seems like a substantial barrier, but the 100 mph Santa Ana gusts have been known to cause fire to leap across highways. For now, they believe their house is safe. But their community is devastated. So many find themselves without a home in a region that already has a significant housing shortage. We are thankful that our daughter’s family is safe, but many of their neighbors have nowhere to go.
These fires in LA are a study in contrast, a dichotomy of extremes. Looters slip in to steal from evacuated homes, while first responders risk their lives to fight the fires even while their own homes burn. Some are jacking up the price of the few remaining properties, others have opened their homes to offer refuge to those who have lost everything. Some blame God, others are bowed in prayer. Some have circled the wagons to protect me and mine, others are asking “How can I help?” Some are creating division by pointing a finger of blame, others have called the community to work together. Recently, some have vilified our neighbors to the north (Canada) and south (Mexico), yet our neighbors still sent firefighters to stand with ours on the front lines. These moments either bring out the worst or the best in all of us. Yet, the flames know no difference. They devour indiscriminately mansion and shack, rich and poor, privileged and unhoused, famous and ‘regular Joe.’ Our hearts are broken for all of them.
Our Mission team met last night. The conversation focused on Jesus’ call to feed the hungry. Without specific reference, the parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25 moved and shaped the decisions made by the team. As they sought to wisely steward the resources of our faith community, the question was simple- Are they hungry? The response- We must feed them. Today, some of our LVC mission monies will be sent to LA to support the work of the World Central Kitchen that is feeding first responders and residents who have lost their homes. We invite you to join with your church in that outreach. Then on February 9 th, stay after worship to pack 25,000 meals. Those meals will feed hungry school children halfway around the world. Bring friends! Share the joy of being part of what God is doing in the world. Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”
With you putting on a chef’s hat,
Anita
Posted in From The Pastor
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