California Wildfires

A couple of weeks ago were massive hurricane Harvey that hit Houston killing almost 40 people and leaving 100000 homes flooded.  Then another hurricane destroying Caribbean islands and Florida killing 130+ people. That was after vast evacuations.  Cops and media for days telling people they needed to get out. A high school classmate showed the devastation of living on Anguilla.  Still no running water and pretty much a desolate island.  Then the mass shooting by a shooter from a hotel into a crowd at a Country concert in Las Vegas which killed almost 60 people and injured nearly 600.  Followed by California Wildfires in Napa, Yuba City and Santa Rosa.  Fires that spread soo quickly people didn't have time to evacuate. So far killing over 40 people that I am sure is going to climb.

One disaster after another.  The scriptures tell us that devastation will sweep the earth in the latter-days.  Is this just a coincidence or will this continue to be the norm?  Is my mind baffled because they hit so close to home?  It is devastation. Entire communities destroyed, lived put on hold, lives lost, countless people whose lives will never be the same.

It is heartbreaking.  It makes me humbled, sad, praying often for all those that are hurting.  Grateful for the plan of salvation and a knowledge of a world far better after this one.  I feel so grateful for this life and reminded to give, be more forgiving, more patient and grateful.  People 40 minutes away had their lives turned upside down. It is amazing to see so many helping and wanting to help in small and simple ways.  Coming together to help people we don't even know but who we love and pray for.

I pray that this stops.  That there is some respite from the storms of life.  I recognize a need to be better.  To help more. To love more. 

Life pretty much shut down the past couple of days because of smoke and we weren't even that close.  You woke up to thick smoke you could smell and taste.  The smell of campfire everywhere.  You realized if it was like that here, what it must be like for firefighters, victims, closer communities.  The sky was red.  You could look directly at the sun because it was covered in smoke.  Going 10 minutes could be drastically worse or better.  We went into San Francisco on Saturday and there was a line of grey with smoke underneath.  You realize that not far away huge fires are still raging.  The City would have people who were directly affected by the fire.  So sad!

All our sports, schools and pretty much everything was cancelled.  Nobody was outside, masks were put on and it was time to reflect, slow down and serve.

I vividly remember the San Francisco earthquake.  Where I was, how I felt, events of the day, watching the news.  I was at home watching TV, eating a snack and getting ready for swim.  I remember my mom running down the stairs and telling us to get under the doorway and the earth shook again.

I remember 9/11.  We were at morning practice and Stan got us all out and we watched a little TV in his office of the aftermath.  It was surreal.  Almost as if you are in a dream.

These events I will remember.  They can't be forgotten.  They remind us to be more grateful, more giving and aware the earth is filled with good people who just want to help.