There is always a silver lining ... even in a cloud of smoke!

Greetings,


Bad things happen to good people.  We all know that.  We've each experienced it on a personal level at some point in our lives.  This past month, the good people of Colorado have lived through it.  Unfortunately, we have had a record fire season, with as many as 12 named fires blazing at once.  The High Park fire near Fort Collins overtook the Hayman fire as the most destructive in our state's history, destroying 259 homes and claiming one life.  We all grieved with our fellow Coloradoans as it was happening. 


Last Tuesday evening, in the midst of sizeable fires down in the Four Corners area, up by Florissant, and near Leadville, the Waldo Canyon Fire outside of Colorado Springs took a major turn for the worst.  A fast moving storm and high winds accomplished the unthinkable and pushed the fire down into a populated part of town.  People were being evacuated with no advance notice.  Houses were literally bursting into flames.  "It looked like a volcano had erupted, with the lava flowing down over the hills" observed terrified bystanders.  Jumping two firelines, it got a foothold in Colorado Springs itself.

In five hours, a record 26,000 people were safely evacuated.  At the same time, 347 houses were being obliterated by the flames.  Even though the acreage of this tragedy was not nearly as significant as High Park or Hayman, sadly, it claimed the record for being the most destructive in Colorado History.  In addition to the houses, it leveled the Flying W Ranch, a well-loved historic landmark, and threatened the United States Air Force Academy.  The grieving in Colorado Springs was overwhelming.

My 14 year old son and I had travelled to Florissant for a meeting on Tuesday evening, at the same time as the wind was carrying the Waldo Canyon fire into Colorado Springs.  We had been having quite a conversation on the way home, unaware of the mayhem and tragedy on the other side of the pass, less than 30 miles from us.  We were discussing what 'stuff' was really important, and what was not.  It was an excellent conversation.  One of those teachable moments that all parents hope for.


He came to the conclusion, on his own, that if our house were to have burned down while we were at our meeting, that would be okay.  He would have lost his computer, his knife and sword collection, everything in his room, and all the 'things' that make our house a home.  He also realized that the list of items he would collect, if we were to get an evacuation notice, was amazingly short.  So long as Mom (me), his brother, and he himself were okay, the rest of it was all just 'stuff'.  It was a very mature moment for him, and a proud one for his momma. 


Little did we know that hundreds of thousands of people were compiling similar mental lists at the exact same time.  The residents of the greater Colorado Springs area had no idea how far into town the fire would rage.  People had been evacuated as far east as I-25.  Many others voluntarily left due to the smoke and the threat of further growth.  Each of those people had gathered up whatever they could fit into their vehicles, or whatever time would allow, and had walked away from everything else that had been so dear to them only hours before.

I expect a lot of people took stock of their lives and realized that 'stuff' is replaceable.  It's just 'stuff'.  The things that really matter have breath in their lungs, and love in their hearts.  I'm certain that some of them, when they were finally allowed to survey the damage done to their homes, regretted lost weekends, evenings, and holidays spent at work earning more money to buy a bigger home.  Now, all that extra work was nothing more than a pile of ashes, and their children had grown up without them.

I cannot imagine the grief and sense of loss those people are currently experiencing, but I do think that some time in the past week, each of them thanked the Lord that they were able to make it out alive, with the one thing that cannot be replaced; their lives.  Only two people were lost in the fire, and sadly, their families are dealing with a much deeper level of pain.  I pray for them fervently.


Somewhere in Colorado, a husband kisses his wife goodnight for the first time in years, realizing that she means more to him than any material possession he could possibly obtain.  A mother turns off her favorite television show and actually talks with her son, grateful that he is safe and in her presence.  A teenager ignores his iPod in favor of a conversation with an evacuee who has been staying with his family waiting to be allowed back into their home.  An elderly woman, whose heart has been softened, clutches a photo album to her chest, weeping over the photos of her loved ones who are thousands of miles away.  She picks up the phone and takes the first step to repairing bridges in their relationship.


There is a silver lining in this cloud of smoke.  It manifests in the form of an awakening.  An awakening to our priorities.  An understanding of what actually matters and what doesn't.  I'm not the only one who took a long hard look at the 'stuff' in my life and realized it's just 'stuff'.  It's not worth missing out on important moments to obtain. 

The truly important things in my life sleep down the hallway and snore loudly.  They don't care if we have an extra $100 in the checkbook as much as they care if their Mom is around when they need her most.  I, for one, intend to keep my priorities in check.  I've been awakened.  Have you?


Blessings,
~Gwen