On the fourth day of the San Diego firestorm, the lead story featured respiratory doctors offering advice on how best to cope with the fallen ash particles from the firestorm. “Stay indoors” was their advice. However, 1500 families were in shock when they discovered that their homes were completely destroyed. They were advised to wear R95 masks as they began the slow process of recovery by shifting through the ruins.One local reporter asked a teenager how she was handling the lost of her home. Sarah is only 15, yet this was she second time in her life that she was shifting through the rumble of her burned out home. Her home had burned down four years ago in the Cedar Fires. At that time, she was devastated losing her clothes, family photos and toys from her childhood. In the Witch Fire of 2007, she had dug out ceramic mugs in the rubble. Again, she felt pretty sad, but it somehow did not bother her as much as before. In a profound moment, she made this comment to the reporter: “Half the stuff I had I didn’t need.”
When families received their reverse 911 call to evacuate, they were told to take only the essentials. The baby, diapers, formula, medicines and the dog. Some folks who had a little more time and grabbed their important documents and the family photos.
God tells us to be prepared because we do not know the day nor the hour when we might be called upon to “evacuate this earth.” At that moment, we might agree with Sarah’s insight that “half the stuff we have been carrying in this life we did not need.”
What excess baggage are you carrying at this moment? No need to carry resentment in the trunk (the acid causes pain in your gut). No need to lock the anger behind your eyes (the headaches are a pain in the brain). No need to be plagued by fears of shame locked in our closets (the lack of sleep leads to chronic fatigue). All this baggage results in poor health, a weak heart and a troubled soul. The only thing that matters to God is your safety. His divine mercy protects us from the fires of hell, the fires in our life. God’s love will quench our thirst for acceptance, understanding and any fear about our futures.
What do you most need from God? Watching those families pick through the rumble, a neighbor would simply come over and give them a big hug. A gesture of hope that was meant to restore their courage to rebuild their home one brick at a time. Let this message be my hug for each of you who find themselves shifting through the ashes.
God prays for us as we reflect: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God's and Christ's perseverance.” Thessalonians 3:5
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends who have lost everything in a fire or any storm of life. Renew their broken spirit, bring healing and comfort and focus our eyes on the love that comes from the generosity of others.
