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When fire rages

Are you prepared? It’s a question we often ask or are often asked, but this week it’s a question that screams out at me. As fires rage in parts of my province of B.C.

Are you prepared? It’s a question we often ask or are often asked, but this week it’s a question that screams out at me. As fires rage in parts of my province of B.C., the fact that dense bush and trees thrive just two streets away from our front door moves that query from merely theoretical to “Wow, that’s too close for comfort!” Being prepared doesn’t always come to mind but this sure is a wake-up call.

Even being prepared for those major events, though, isn’t a guarantee that we’ll always know what to do when the unexpected comes our way. Take this morning, for instance. 

Though of little importance when placed beside raging forest fires, catching my toe on a sidewalk crack as I left church today was something I wasn’t planning or anticipating. I tripped and on my way down I had enough foresight to aim as carefully as I could and it worked; instead of landing on my head, I hit my knee and upper arm with great force but I didn’t crack my skull. Fortunately there were trained medical people who quickly came to my rescue. I’m bruised and sore but doing fine.

Less visible scars that life leaves on all of us are different: Be they unexpected illnesses, loss of loved ones, abuse of every kind and loneliness deep enough to drive people to despair, those scars become part of who we are. 

For me and millions more, trusting Christ offers peace and comfort in the most trying of circumstances; having said that, no one – not even Christians – escape life’s pain. The answer? It’s not found in glib responses but in a maturing confidence - knowing that nothing escapes His eye and nothing can take us from His hand. 

“God is our refuge and strength … therefore we will not fear …” Psalm 46:1, 2