It seems like the world has been undergoing so many transformations over the past few years, and not all of them are related to Covid. The Earth itself has been catching on fire—Australia two years ago, Hawaii last year—and on top of that, earthquakes, cyclones, storms, and floods claimed the lives of millions in 2023. And this is without even mentioning all the devastating wars and killings in recent years. So, what does this mean?
It is true that ecosystems benefit from periodic fires, as they clear out dead organic material. Could forgiveness be a fire that cleanses the dead material within ourselves and our cities? Could it be the start of something new? Yet, forgiveness and healing are two different things. The Earth may forgive many of our reckless acts, but it still needs time to heal in order to be fully restored.
“The oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes; they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall restore the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.”
Powerful nature carries consequences when we don’t treat it right. We fear fires, change, and any curveball that wasn’t accounted for. We don’t want wildfires—and I don’t blame us—but there’s a healthy aspect to them, one we’ve neglected for too long. Fires too, exfoliate the Earth.
“The buildup of decaying organic matter on the ground is fuel for wildfires. Without periodic fire to clear this out, a naturally occurring fire may grow and move quickly, doing much more damage than a prescribed burn—and without its safety parameters.” What happens when we try to control nature instead of working with it? God created a complete physical home for us—planet Earth. It is the smartest home, one that breathes and provides all we could physically need. So perhaps we should listen to it.
Why have we lost our connection to ourselves and our Creator? How can we move forward without a shared vision for life? Will the Karner blue butterfly become extinct due to habitat loss caused by the suppression of wildfires?
Time doesn’t erase, but it does allow us to become grounded in what is right. Part 2/3 blogs.
Today's Thoughts 