Dear Church Family,

The wild fires are raging in California. It is a natural disaster that we are not familiar with in this part of the world.  (We have our own disasters to deal with).  I was listening to a radio report as I was driving the other day, and what I was hearing from California was completely new information and a dilemma that is causing people to suffer in unusual ways.

The forests of California are lined with power lines that run from city to city.  When it gets windy the power lines sway and they will occasionally arc together and start a fire.  In fact, the electric company has been held liable for several damaging fires over the years.  So the electric company has come up with a solution.  When it gets really windy, they just shut off the power to the lines causing a black out to cities all over Northern California. That may not seem like a big deal, but these winds in Northern California can last for 2-3 weeks.

Can you imagine not having power to your stove or refrigerator for 2-3 weeks, because someone cut off a switch?  It is probably the best course of action, but it sure is hard on people who are living without the comforts of home.

As I listened to the people in that area of the country tell their story, it struck me that we live in a vast, diverse country. People are going through all kinds of matters, and are having to learn, adapt and adjust to the circumstances of the day.  And just as people in Northern California are suffering with a particular set of circumstances, people right down the street are dealing with matters as well.  We can be obsessed with fixing our own problems, and forget that others need help too.  The vibrancy of the Christian life is found when we serve others before we worry about ourselves.  Let’s remember to look with compassionate eyes at people around us and pray for people, engage with people, help people, as we press on in this life together.

I am so glad you are here today,

God Bless, Dr. j