Miracles

Photo by Chuck Hoffman © Genesis+Art

Wenatchee, Washington  

Today is August 25. I had a good night's sleep at Celebration Lutheran and attended the 24th consecutive stakeholders meeting this morning at the Chelan fire station. The First Creek Fire has burned north as far as Field’s Point but remains up on the hill. It is chewing its way toward the B-and-B and the Lake House and many people are homeless or evacuated. There are still many reasons for prayer.

There are, however, signs of a shift. Chuck, Marc, Nancy, and Jeff are solid and confident in Holden. The land around the Village continues to smolder, but things are starting to stabilize and there is a plethora of wildlife. Thomas Lulay, a former Holdenite presently working for Pool, was on site for the fire and reported yesterday that the labyrinth is now more like a wildlife refuge. I love that image. In our phone conversations, Chuck and I talk about moving forward and topics other than fire.

In an update to Board President Karl Anderson, I offhandedly closed with, "I think we had our miracle." Today I feel the weight of that comment: "I think we had our miracle." So much can still happen, and the recovery process is still ahead of us. But let us pause and say the words to each other: "I think we had our miracle." It is a miracle born of good timing, preparation, foresight, and hard work. Let us take a moment to give thanks for Holden’s survival while we remember that many others still struggle. The losses in the West (and around the planet) are ongoing and tragic. While we know that Holden’s survival is not an indication of God’s preference, we rest assured that God will meet us in every situation, joyous or tragic. That is the real miracle.

With good courage, Peg

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