Having an Attitude of Gratitude
Pax (Possum) and Chase (Fox) show their gratitude.
"On the other side of the fires, what will grow is so much more lush and green, fertilized by what was, growing into what will be" - author unknown
An autumn crispness fills the early morning air as I walk my Labrador Francesca up the road above my house. The mountains on the horizon stand tall and magnificent below a mixture of pink and blue-hued clouds, reminding me that I’ve been gifted with another new day, still freshly made and yet unwritten. All is silent as my eyes scan the tall pines, standing like they’ve always stood since they were just seedlings. Yet not far off lies the Whychus Creek Canyon, changed forever since the ravaging fire that barely a month ago roared through its deep, winding ravine, devastating everything in its pathway. No longer a lush and natural wildland with pathways leading down to the melodic creek below, it is burnt and stripped of all its prior beauty. What was once a pine-infused wonderland of wildlife and eagles’ nests is now a hollow cylinder of emptiness.
My heart aches with longing for what once was - an oasis of natural beauty. Yet what is more important are the firefighters and first responders who gave their lives, their hearts, and their souls to save our homes from destruction. Time and again, we witnessed their staggering, bent-over bodies climb out of the ravine, faces blackened and hair below their hard hats singed to a crisp. Axes and shovels hoisted above their shoulders, evidence of a full night’s duty of fighting fires that they knew could not come up the hill to engulf the houses and neighborhood that lay beyond.
They are no longer in the canyon fighting fires now, but their heroic acts of self-sacrifice are fresh in our minds. My grandson’s Pax and Chase were so touched and relieved they had a house to go home to that they took some posterboard and made thank you signs for the firefighters who were slowly packing up their gear and leaving the neighborhood. It was a job well done by all of them, and our hearts were full of gratitude as we stood and waved them on while they passed by.
Life is like coming and going sometimes. Tragedy strikes in various ways, and we feel like we just can’t breathe. Devastation shakes our souls and numbs our minds for a time. Loss and grief engulf us as we come to terms with the reality of our situation. We miss what was, the beauty that flourished so profoundly.
"That's when I saw it. A single green blade of grass... A shoot of life among the black. The future surging from the past". - Celeste Ng
And yet our hearts have grown to rest in gratitude and peace. Yes, the canyon has changed forever, but our houses are still standing and our lives are still waiting for us. Our families, friends, and neighbors are here as they were before. The blessings of each other, of life lived together, day by day, are more than enough to fill our hearts with an abundance of gratitude.
As I stand to survey the beauty of the morning and drink in the freshness of a new day, I feel alive with possibilities. I know that difficult seasons will eventually pass, but joy, hope, and restoration will arrive with each fresh new day.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning,” Psalm 30:5