July 4th and The Waldo Canyon Fire

After an evening of some much needed and prayed for rain I walked out into the front yard this morning and there were ashes all over my front steps and driveway. I noticed a piece of burned paper on the lawn and when I picked it up to throw it away I discovered it was piece of sheet music with handwritten notes on it. I‘m not sure what song it is or who composed it, but someone does.

The words of the prophet Isaiah to Israel has application for all of us in times of loss, ”comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion,  to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of

gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3

Oh, may that be true in the aftermath of this devastating fire! Yes, good friends of mine lost everything, but not their hope in a God who is able to bring comfort.  While standing in line at the Post Office I talked to other evacuees who are grateful they and their loved ones are alive. They are experiencing the Good Shepherd’s comfort and peace and they know that He will also bring good out of all this loss. Like the Psalmist they have a new song to sing that comes out of their real life experiences.

Yes, it will take years to restore the landscape, but God is in the business of restoration. It begins with us and the restoration of our hearts. That’s where real life begins.

 It’s interesting that on the day that we celebrate our country’s new beginning it’s also a day of new beginnings for many who have experienced so much pain and loss from the Waldo Canyon fire.  In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, also died on the same day: July 4, 1826, 50 years after the day of signing of the Declaration.

A lot of change has taken place over the last 236 years and a lot will change for all of us as well, but one thing that will never change is God’s love and compassion for you!

Mark

Your comments are always welcome below.  Let me know if you've heard any encouraging fire stories as well.