What would you take if you had 1 hour to evacuate your home? What about 30 minutes? 5 minutes?
It didn’t take me very long to go through my house. I checked every room meticulously. 15 minutes later, this was it: all the documents, laptops and VHS tapes of family memories fit into these three bags. It’s so weird.
I kept asking myself “Are you sure? There’s nothing else?” But I knew, as long as I had my husband and a few legal documents, the rest was replaceable…and I’m sure even those documents are replaceable.
Waiting around to be evacuated was surreal. I know I was in semi-denial when I switched from fire updates to the DIY video I was watching while trimming my hair. What do you do when you face the reality that you may lose most of your possessions? What can you do? There’s no way I was going to unmount the TV or stuff clothing into my car. I didn’t even take my gorgeous vintage wedding dress. Will I regret it? Maybe. But, when it comes down to it…it’s value is in the memories I have when I wore it…and those cannot be burned up in a fire. And like these untouchable memories, it became clear to me that the most valuable possessions I own are the relationships I have.
I was moved by the calls and texts that came flooding in since 6am. We are blessed with an incredible community which includes many family and friends who offered their homes to us if we needed a place to stay. In fact, I know that my source of comfort and calmness was not only in my trust that God is sovereign (whether or not we lost our home) but I knew that I did not feel alone. In fact, I know I’d be distraught if we were displaced without anyone to turn to. I cannot imagine what this would feel like and I am grateful for this privileged ignorance. Gratefully, in the midst of the unknown, I was buoyed in the strength of my community.
Now, I am blogging comfortably at a coffee shop, watching updates about our home and neighborhood and deciding whose house we’ll go to for a forced-but-fun slumber party. So, as far as I can see, we have everything. And, as I sit in the reality of my privilege, I am painfully aware that this is not everyone’s reality. My mind and prayers turn to those who don’t have fire insurance; those who didn’t have time to grab valued belongings; those who have lost their homes due to the uncontained wildfires; and those who have to turn to shelters in the absence of community. All I can do is pray for comfort and provisions for others and give thanks for our situation.
As we watch the wildfires take their course in Southern California, let this be a moment to pause, breathe deeply and think about all the valuable possessions we have. What valuables do you have in your life? Who could you rely on? How can you be a community to others or start building a healthy community for yourself?
Though we hope the fires will die out in a few days, I hope to continue to reflect on the power of community and give this gift back to others.
Written: Tuesday, December 5, 2017