Some friends of ours headed out of their home to attend a local event with excitement and anticipation of what they would see, meeting friends there, marveling at the beauty of outdoors in the summertime. Closing the house door, finding keys to starting the car, all the normal things we do everyday.
While they were checking out some of the booths and seeing the activity in the center area, a breeze came up & helped to cool off all the people in the hot, intensive burning sun. The breeze got stronger and a bit gusty. So, the booth owners may have to tighten down some of their lines and weight down items to keep from blowing around a bit.
Through the sounds of the music and voices of people enjoying a beautiful day in the mountains, some heard a siren in the distance. Walking around and chatting, another siren was heard. And then another. Then another. By this time, people were starting to wonder what some of the sirens were all about, so looking in the direction they were headed, dark black smoke was billowing up in the distance.
"Oh wow, there is a fire over that way. I am so glad the fire department is so close by." This thought probably ran through many people's minds.
The wind picked up and really started gusting. Hats were flying around, jackets, shirts and skirts were tight against one side of a body and flapping on the other side. Papers flying, dust swirling, backs being turned to the wind so eyes don't get berated by sand. Most eyes turned towards the smoke in the distance, now roiling blacker, bigger within moments. Mumbles of concern, undoubtably some prayers were being said to keep people safe.
Our friends were all ready on the way to their car. The smoke was in the direction of their home. Summer had been so dry, and with a drought that has been going on for at least 30 years, no fire is a good one.
"Probably everything is all right, but I would feel better to just make sure." Was one thought passing through their minds.
Traffic is stopped quite a ways from the entrance to the housing development. Not good - it is police and firemen who are monitoring the roads, meanwhile the smoke continues to pour out & they KNOW it is their housing area, but where?? Identifications shown, with trepidation, they finally enter their "subdivision" (a loose term in the mountain community).
Approaching slowly, mud, soot, debris and smoke permeate all around them and there is..................
nothing left of the abode they left an hour ago.
Well, no covering to keep out the elements, other than a melted furnace and what used to be a stove..... Later, as Samaritan's Purse helped carefully sift through the ashes, there were laptop batteries and broken dishes found. "We always find laptop batteries" they said. Passports, guest books (popular place, it was!), so many memories. Gone.
A neighbor wandered over, also surveying the devastation from her own home across the street. She told my friend that from inside her home, she saw the fire ignite a tree. As she was dialing 911, her own curtains on the inside of her home. Not getting a response from the phone (phone lines were down), she grabbed what she could, dashed to her car in the garage, hit the garage door opener (thank Heaven THAT still worked), started the car, backed out & before she could put the car in drive to take off, her entire home was engulfed! Wow - there before the grace of God...! 40 years of memories and life, gone.
Now, what was the problem you were dealing with today? Does it really matter that your co-worker only uses a tissue once before throwing it away? Life happens - let's live it for God today!
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