Fires A Blazing

Liar, liar pants on fire

Over the last few days I have been wondering if there actually have been a lot of liars out there with their pants on fire. We had this weird whether system that came through Monday that brought hot dry air, and lots of it. The wind was really sporadic throughout the night and into Tuesday. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the fires hadn’t started, and grown because of the wind. To say that the state of Oregon is on fire is an understatement, and then I look at a fire map and realize the whole west coast seems to be on fire from Colorado to Oregon/Washington and California. I’m just throwing this out there, but it seems quite odd to me to have so many fires when it’s an election year, thus going back to my “liar, liar pants on fire” remark. Ok, so before someone says something to me about this being a political post, it most definitely is not! I think I hate politics almost as much as I hate liver and onions.

These fires all around where I live has gotten me thinking about if I would be ready to leave my home in a moments notice if I was told to. It scares me to think that I am partially prepared, for instance I know for certain that besides my family, the pets would get tossed in the car, and probably a few days of clothes would be tossed in too, but other than that I don’t know much else I would take. I don’t hold a lot of sentimental value to things in particular. I am the kind of person that holds more value to doing things with the ones I love rather than collecting things. Now my kids and husband are way different. They would take the whole house if they could. As this week has progressed (remember it is only Thursday) the amount of fires that have sprouted up is nuts, and I don’t even know about half of them. About 30 miles away is a 10,000 acre fire, that has threatened homes, taken homes and is moving fast. In another direction 70 miles away 4 fires have mysteriously spouted up, causing a whole city to be on alert and parts evacuated. South in California fires have been burning for weeks. They say you don’t really stress about problems that aren’t close to you or that don’t directly affect your way of living. For instance, I will feel bad, and pray for people say in Colorado who are dealing with large amounts of snow, but I won’t really stress over it because it doesn’t affect the bubble I live in. It sounds harsh but it’s realistic. Now, these fires going on around where I live, I stress a little more about them because there are a lot of people I know who are being directly affected by them.

My wonderful husband has been planning a motorcycle trip to the coast for weeks. These fires are affecting him and the routes he can take and travel safely. I have friends who have moved their animals to safer places as they watch their homes come dangerously close to burning down. A gal I work with came to work knowing at anytime she could be told her house is gone. Then I get to hear the stories of people being saved, buildings withstanding the storm and animals being reunited with their owners. Sadly it seems to happen this way, but big disasters help you to really see what is important to you. They draw people together for the greater good. People set aside hurts and anger and their own selfishness to help others in need. People give of their resources, time and energy, they turn back to their “humanistic” ways and support others in need. I love to hear of these stories. The people that “come out of the woodwork” to help and then just as quickly meld back into the woodwork should be praised too. Part of why I write this blog is because I want to “Live Joyfully” I would much rather focus on what is good, what is noble was is just.

Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy---meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8

I admit these fires and the other “news” of this world was really starting to get to me. I could feel the weight of them on my shoulders. I see in my kids faces everyday as they “go to school” from home. I see it in my eyes as I look in the mirror and think why am I working so much? I see it in the way my husband does all he can to support me, take care of the kids and go to college to better himself while still dealing with the world around us. My neighbor the other day had asked if I had seen the news recently and I flat out told him “NO!” I do not want that in my bubble. If it is something I need to know about I will hear about it no matter what, but with how the news is now a days it is so negative without the slight bit of positivity and joy. There is always going to be bad around us, to focus then on what you can find that brings joy is of utmost importance. So here is my request from you: send me your joy, send me the happiness you have found today. Why not share and spread the good rather than focusing always on the bad. I can’t wait to hear from you! Until next time:

Living big and joyful and content is almost always the result of our finding satisfaction in life’s ordinary day-to-day pleasures. And God must be fond of them, too, for He made so many of them for us to enjoy

H. Jackson Brown Jr.