Arizona Tragedy

Today's news from the Arizona forest/brush fire is so sad. The thought of nineteen young men who were top-notch fire fighters, hot-shots, perishing when the fire turned on them is unbelievable. They even used their emergency protection, but all for naught. The fire was too much.

This tragedy hammered home the truth that life is fragile. Even though we, being the smart people we are, continue developing unbelievably lightweight materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, we can't guarantee lives will not be lost. We develop lightweight materials that can stop bullets and protect our skulls from impacts. We build cars with airbags all around, cars that can withstand high-speed head on collisions, and cars that can park themselves, warn us of pedestrians and oncoming traffic. We discover cures for diseases and invent robotic body parts. We do all this plus shoot people into space. We do it all, but cannot prevent the loss of lives.

Loss of lives sounds so sterile and cold. These were not "lives". These nineteen were sons, husbands, dads, friends, community leaders, and schoolboys' heroes. They held jobs, had hobbies, laughed, cried, loved, and played. And they were brave.

Anyone who willingly looks a raging fire in the face is brave.  Those who withstand the heat, the smoke and the flames are brave. Sadly, all the specialized training and state of the art equipment are useless when the wind suddenly, and without warning, changes direction. All they have left is quick thinking. In this case, after they did all they could do, it was not enough.

So many lives have been changed in the blink of an eye. Those families will need all the support they can get. I pray they are in a community whose shoulders are ready to be cried on, whose arms are ready to prepare meals, whose feet and willing to go that extra mile, whose ears are ready to listen and listen and listen, and whose tongues are able to remain still when necessary.

I pray they have churches who are ready to be Jesus more that ever before.

Lord, I hurt for the families of the men who died. Help them in their grief. You know their needs. You know their thoughts and fears. You know the tough decisions that will have to be made and the changes to their daily live that will take place. You know it all, and you are already working it out.

All these people are loved by you, Lord. Let them meet you face-to-face in the midst of this disaster. It is my prayer that you hold them in your arms and assure them that you will never let them go. Hold them close, whisper softly, and sing over them at night.

In Jesus' Name. Amen 

 

Hurting, yet trusting,
Jan