That wonky redwood is the “Dr Sues
s Tree” as we call it, on the other side of my backyard fence, that towers above my garden from my neighbor’s place. I took the picture from down the street, quickly before the sun set.
We are seeing the setting sun through smoke. It’s been like this since last Thursday, when shortly after wildfires began to destroy the town of Paradise in Butte County, ashes and cinders from that destruction floated three hundred miles to the south, here and beyond here, at least to San Jose. Students and teachers in our schools are on the fifth day of their weekend, what with Veteran’s Day and smoke days.
It’s gloomy. My friend Myriah may have lost her house, though she was mercifully stuck in Texas when the chaos began. Or, her house might still stand, one of the few that weren’t destroyed by the blazes. The prospect of being a householder on an outpost in the middle of a burned-out town, “in the middle of an ash heap,” as Myriah puts it, is bleak. Whatever the condition of her house, her home is gone.
Lately in Liturgy the litany has included prayers for those suffering as a result of shootings, and this week “fires” was added to the phrase, along with the extra remembrance of soldiers slain in wars. Our parish was also commemorating the repose of a beloved priest, and we met at the cemetery Sunday afternoon for a prayer service in his memory. Several parishioners wore masks against the bad air.
It was a sweet gathering and memorial, for a man who was in many ways the heart of our parish — and still is. After the prayers and hymns and aromatic censing of the graves, we sang “Memory Eternal,” and the service ended. A little table had been set up on the grass next to the grave, with a candle and a icon on it, and our priest poured the melted wax from the candle on to the grave marker in the shape of a cross. Then he emptied the charcoal from his censer and remaining bits of incense on top of that.
A couple of the children crouched down to ask what he was doing, and I didn’t hear his answer, but I did hear him say, “I need to you blow on that, gently.” He wanted the incense to go on smoking for a while, so the kids got to provide the supporting wind.
A lawsuit has been filed against the utility company that supplies electricity to Butte County, claiming negligence on their part; it may have been sparks from their wires that started the fires. They had previously talked about the possibility of shutting off power to several counties because of extreme fire danger, and wanting to avoid all possibility of sparks or downed power lines instigating a disaster. I can see how they would at the same time like to avoid depriving their customers of what is a means of life support for many, especially in that mountain community where many retired people are now missing the comfort of winter coats that are turned to ashes.
I have no thesis around which to organize my ramblings, only sightings and impressions and feelings. Myriah is collecting clothing and supplies that match the actual needs of specific people in her hometown, and she will stop by here to get a few things on her way there. That is the most concrete and encouraging thing I have to write today; as was the case last year when the inferno was right here, the stories of sacrifice and true community are heartening.
One friend at church wrote on a chalkboard by his front door, “The love in the air is thicker than the smoke, and depression is a close second.”
Gladsome Lights 
So so very difficult. I am so sorry for everyone’s suffering there. Prayers on this end, love being sent….
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I have been worriedly checking your blog for direct updates. Sending you and those affected prayers, as feeble as that may sound. Love in Christ, Helena.
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Its been so terrible the fires and the just complete loss of life and homes. I do hope we get rain soon. Every morning I dread seeing the sun rise and the plumes of smoke that color the sky red. I hope your friend still has a home.
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So many of us are watching, and praying. Some of our Texas firefighters have headed your way: yesterday, I believe. The impulse to “do something” to help is strong, but so is the sense of helplessness. Irony of ironies, I watched it snow here today. Granted, it was more sleet and graupel than snow, but there was snow, despite its quick departure. May your fires soon die by the hand of rain and snow, too.
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We see the fires and the devastation on the news. It’s truly hard to grasp the magnitude of it. So sad about all the lives lost and people still missing.
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Stay safe. Prayers for the fire’s victims and all those affected by it.
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What a terrifying, heartbreaking thing has happened in Paradise. And other places.
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I just read Franklin Graham’s post to pray for California. It is good the world over is praying. He does not point blame or judge Hollywood. He eloquently calls for prayer. It’s heart breaking. It is strange to hear of different peoples pointing the blame here there and everywhere. I am grateful for the Myriahs that are there putting feet to their service. You are loved.
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I could imagine a theme in your balancing the image of children helping the priest to keep the slight incense smoke alive just a bit longer with that of adults wearing breathing masks against the atmospheric corruption. Then there’s that lone redwood tree looking out of place in your neighborhood but managing an upright stance in the face of a hauntingly smoky sunset. Lots of meanings here, along with yearnings to help and returnings to prayer.
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Balancing… that is exactly the word for what I don’t know how to do. But thank you for seeing my desire.
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Such a poignant picture you have painted! May the Lord have mercy on all affected by the fires! You and your lovely community are in my prayers!
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I get so little news, being “unplugged” most of the time. I wondered how close the fires were to you. Prayers for everyone!
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I feel so badly for everyone there.
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We have been praying for you all from afar, watching the news of the infernos. Your description of the burial of your dear pastor is so sweet, esp. the part of the children. That is dear. We found it to be true here also, after the hurricane, that neighborliness and love and tender care of others — even strangers — is so rich and full after disaster. It continues on months afterward. I’m so sorry for what everyone is going through out there. I’m grieved for your friend – as you say, her home, her place of peace, is gone, regardless of the condition of the physical dwelling.
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I was looking at pictures online of Paradise before the fire and was so saddened to think that it was all gone. I can’t even imagine what that must be like for those who were able to escape. My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones there. How scary it must be to live in such a tinder box. I’m glad some rains have come, although I know it’s a mixed blessing as they seek the remains of those unaccounted for. I pray they are soft and gentle and don’t add to the misery.
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