聽 聽 聽 聽 Vast tracts of Western Canada are engulfed in flames this morning. Thousands of folks have been evacuated, houses have been destroyed and across three provinces聽 the skies are filled with smoke and ash. As we left for church today I was reminded of the eruption of Mount St. Helen鈥檚. We lived close enough to experience that 鈥渁sh-snow鈥� but this time it鈥檚 fire, multiple fires, in fact, that are burning far too close for comfort.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I can鈥檛 even imagine the emotions that flood the hearts and minds of those who have had to leave their homes to the fury of flames. Though I live mere minutes from the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the description 鈥渞ain forest country鈥� has become more a memory than a reality. The current situation has resulted in bans on all open fires and railings against those who carelessly discard cigarette butts.
In addition to the haze that turned our moon blood red and painted our blue skies聽 an eerie shade of brown, there鈥檚 more evidence of the seriousness of it all. Facebook is flooded with comments and photos and some neighbours are now abandoning their lawnmowers and erecting signs which read: Brown is the New Green. Lush manicured expanses surrounding homes and public buildings have temporarily lost their appeal because as much as I enjoy verdant lawns, I鈥檇 rather preserve our city鈥檚 water supply for my beans, tomatoes and onions.
There are days when my soul feels parched, too, scorched from the daily exposure of life. As a psalmist, one of the sons of Korah, once wrote, 鈥淎s the hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.鈥� (Psalm 42:1)
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Thank God, there鈥檚 no bottom to the well of living water, no restrictions on how deeply we may drink to slake our thirst.
