Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Wildfires in California

I have just moved in to a new community due to my wife being appointed to a new church in July. We live close to the San Gabriel Mountains, and lately we have been impacted by the wildfires that are raging above us. There is the ash and smell of smoke, there is the constant warnings to stay inside and not breath in the air filled with particles we cannot see, but fill our lung. There is the news of church camps that were threatened and the miracle that they were not completely damaged, only minor out buildings were destroyed. And because we moved next to a small airport we have had an extraordinary amount of air traffic due to the helicopters, sky cranes, and planes using it as a base to refuel and stay at night. I have been amazed at the effort it takes to keep the aircraft up in the air, the tankers bring fuel, maintenance crews work through the night to make sure the aircraft is ready to go at the break of dawn, the pilots who make such precise drops, and the spotters who help bring the resources to the right places at the right time. This does not even include all the ground crews and the effort of all the firefighters on the ground. What a blessing it is witness the miracle of cooperation that it takes for everyone to use their skills in an effective battle against the fires.
Again, I am not even aware of these crews are getting fed, and the effort of so many to provide shelter for evacuates, evacuate animals of all kinds, wow, it boggles the mind!
I wonder how different the world would be if we could learn to corporate with one another to fight oppression, homelessness,and establish wellness and peace on earth.

"..you may be filled with the blessing of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit in very good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God" (Col.1:9-10)

We all bear fruit, we all have gifts and skills to offer to the Lord to make peace a reality, not all of us can be pilots some need to be ground crew, others to be on the front lines, those who need to be strategic and plan. It will take the full effort of everyone to make sure the hard issues of life are addressed and the challenges met.
What do you think? Steve

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hadn't thought of these things either. But what a world it could be if we tackled all our problems in this way - each doing what we can without expecting any glory. May it be so. Judy Cobb