Fire on the Mountain

[create_destiny]

It never rains in Chico in the summer. Except last Saturday when it rained very briefly. I was at a backyard bar-be-que when fat drops plopped in the dust. We were talking about the floods in Iowa, the fires and drought in California when it happened. Someone said Mother Nature's pissed. I said, She's a Republican. Just look at the unequal distribution of resources.



The day I took the above photo, more than 1000 wildfires were sparked by dry lightning storms. One week later these fires are still burning. I am near the center of the thickest smoke seen in the photo below. The red squares indicate the biggest fires. I have monk-friends who live in the Shasta-Trinity wilderness. Their beloved monastery is in danger and they have evacuated, taking ancient icons and encased slivers of Saint's bones with them.



At night I pray to the same God who left a toddler locked in an apartment with his dead mother for seven days. I pray mercy, mercy, light. Something unseen prevents me from going too deep into the why of it all. Otherwise I would grab God by the throat and say, Today, you will be judged by the condemned. As it is, I lie low in patches of grace.

Comments

[yasue.livejournal.com]

How is this God's fault?

[pavaneofstars.livejournal.com]

Wow, that satellite image really puts it into perspective. I cannot wait for this smoke to clear.

[anodyne19148.livejournal.com]

I don't know you really well, but I thought about you when I read about the CA fires. I think wild fires are by far the scariest of natural disasters. Stay safe.

[nodressrehersal.livejournal.com]

I pray mercy, mercy, light. Something unseen prevents me from going too deep into the why of it all. Otherwise I would grab God by the throat and say, Today, you will be judged by the condemned. As it is, I lie low in patches of grace.

Heartbreaking and stunning and powerful all at the same time.