Sunday, October 15, 2017

Lament for my hometown

Here's my WND column for this weekend entitled "Lament for my hometown."


I am stunned by the devastation of these fires in Wine Country. The whole catastrophe is tragic beyond belief.


If this map is accurate, the house I grew up in has been incinerated. Thank God my parents are safe -- they retired to Southern California several years ago -- but the rural neighborhood where I grew up apparently is gone.

15 comments:

  1. I’m so very sorry.
    Praying for all affected.
    Sidetracksusie

    ReplyDelete
  2. As always, a wonderful heartfelt article. I'm sitting here in Healdsburg which is 12 miles North of Santa Rosa. It is Hell here on earth. My adult girls and families are safe, my 87yr mom just north of me is safe and my friends in SR are safe but some without homes. My two homes I lived in as a kid are both gone. Both miles on the opposite ends of SR from each other. My next door neighbor last a dear friend in the Coffey Park Burn. Our neighborhood street is lined with horse trailers, travel trailer and cars from evacuated areas. Just a hint of friends/family helping each other. As a Christian it's hard to hear the "Why would God do this" questions but also as a Christian, I see His hand in many miracles. Friends, who house was one of 3 left standing out of 100s, My 2 best friends homes And their parents homes were missed by the firestorm that came running down the hills at 2am and missed their area by 1/2 mile. This whole thing is hard to wrap ones head around what is happening and how life is going to change. 5% of Sonoma County housing has been lost, business lost and jobs.
    The winds should be calm in the coming days and maybe rain next week. This and the 10,000 firefighters on the lines(bless their little hearts) will help. As for the cause, I'm wanting to believe this wasn't arson. We had unbelievable high winds that night, scary winds, gusts to 80mph winds. I think it was power lines crossing and sparking. But what do I know.
    I do want to thank you all for your prayers as I know you have been praying. I think Church will be packed today.
    Thanks for letting me ramble on. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. QUOTE: "Thank God my parents are safe -- they retired to Southern California several years ago..."
    I'm guessing that your version of safe is subjective? Escaping the wildfires and moving into the heart of Illegal Immigrant-crime-infested-Liberal-Hell where it almost illegal to defend yourself and your home from the nearby gang scum that want to take everything you own is not what I would call "safe". That crap state creates its own hellfire by hugging trees and worrying about a tiny non native fish and creating a statewide artificial drought, instead of refusing to follow proper forestry techniques and allowing farmers to do their thing and allow proper irrigation... Getting out of there like you did is what I would call safe.
    I'm sorry about your old hometown, Truly I know how you feel... but when the roaches take over and their is no way to get rid of them, you just have to accept it as a loss. I know of what I speak....
    I used to be an cityslicker from NYC.. when I grew up we still had all the dangerous playground monkeybars and all the rides in cony island were slightly hair rasing and thrilling... and we still had Rockaway Playland on the other side of the city with is awesome funhouse and rollercoaster, and all ot their rides were even more thrilling! And the food tasted wonderful!! But some liberal saftycone of a city council condemned all of them and detroyed 2 famous rollercoasters(they would have gotten the Cyclone if they could but the national parks service has declared it to be a national landmark and historic treasure so it still stands, to their consternation!). The wrapped everything I used to love in bubble wrap and destroyed the rest.... then they took the salt out of the food and destroyed my reason for going to 7Eleven...and now staet that no one that holds a consertive view shoul ever live there or even vist the state and allowing terible thing to happen to them and refusing to care... basicly burning you out of your home...My NYC is dead.... the same goes for your old town and homestate.... they stocked it full of burnable fuels and bubblerapped mother-nature thinking that mother gaia would love them back for not allowing the "Ebil Forrest abusers" to "rape" her and "drain her waterblood dry". They might as well have doused that entire area in gasoline and lit the match.
    I like yourself now live here in this glorious gem state. But if we aren't careful those same people will slowly erode this state just like the did with your and mine. Once again I sorry for your loss, and I'm Praying for the safety of those still there, but it was lost a long time ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. may I suggest since you know not of what you speak you don't say anything at all about California.

      Delete
    2. AtomicSpud, YOU'RE SPOT ON!!!!!

      Delete
    3. HOME FOR 52YRS, AtomicSpud is correct!

      Delete
  4. Between hurricanes, droughts, and fires this has been a rough year. The year before that wasn't particularly good for us here in North Georgia, either. I've been living on a mountain here since 1986 and I can't remember a tougher time. Maybe things will improve in 2018.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Please accept my condolences. It's bad enough seeing the old places disappear a little at a time; it's far worse to lose a whole neighborhood or town at one time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Some comments on here are a bit harsh, though it may be true in some respects of what you say about the people there in California. Remember, some of those people have been there for years before it went to the wayside and maybe their children are there too and old friends. I think we all can say no matter where we live there are always those who can make things bad or are of different thinking that I wouldn't certainly agree with, but sometimes people stay put for personal reasons that may be unknown to you or has family or a job they need. Just saying. I'm a conservative person and a follower of Jesus. I also want to remind people that though we are seeing many terrible things happening in this world doesn't necessarily mean that our God caused it. Remember, Satan has much power here on earth for a while. All we have to do is look around and I believe many would agree with me on that statement. We need to be on our guard. I'm sorry Patrice about your hometown and I'm sorry for those who have perished and for those who have lost everything. I'm thankful and grateful that your parents are well and for those who made it out alive. Everyone has been in my prayers and that will continue. Hopefully people can come together there no matter what side of politics and beliefs they have to help uphold each other and to be of help to one another. This is what our world could use today if we want to make a change no matter if it is just for an hour. Just imagine what our world could be like if everyone gave one hour a day to someone who could use a kind word or help in some small way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a wonderful heart. God bless.

      Delete
  7. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/10/16/odin-would-not-abandon-his-flock-as-firestorm-approach/

    I don't want to open up any wounds but thought this might warm your heart

    A story of a Lydia protecting her/his flock and some others

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow. Beautiful. A silver ray of hope in a very dark tragedy.

      - Patrice

      Delete
  8. I had a comment to your previous blog post on these fires and offer condolences on the loss for all concerned.

    I was one of them (although) years ago that worked the long shifts on the fire line. Once went actually 72 hours w/o a break and on the order of the "walking dead" is what we felt like. Biting and snapping at our fellow fire fighters because of lack of rest. At least after about 12 hours of sleep we returned to "normal". Whatever that means to a firefighter. Just another long shift again. Desperate for help all of these people are and they thank God for the efforts of the firefighters. That said, sometimes all the personnel, equipment, air resources that we can bring to bear and Mother Nature does what she wills anyway. Air resources become severely restricted when the winds exceed 35 mph.

    I was one of the ones who directed air resources to help. As a helicopter manager the safety of the crew is weighed against doing what we can to fire these fires.

    I know we all have seen this late summer and early fall the "hand of God" in Hurricanes, Fire storms, and other man caused events. I actually hate that term "hand of God" as if He was responsible. Actually, He is not responsible. WE ARE!

    Even the shooting in Las Vegas indicates the depravity of man and the effects of sin on humanity. Living in a fallen world we need a Saviour! God provided one and only one in Jesus Christ. Will that fix or rebuild homes? Not necessarily, but many in the faith community step up and come to the aid of victims of natural or man made tragedies. It isn't the government that offers the most hope. It is those who profess the risen King. May He come again soon!

    Retired USFS Firefighter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish we had ten thousand more firefighters just like you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

      - Patrie

      Delete
    2. You're welcome Patrice. Losing your childhood home hurts. You have my prayers sister!

      Delete