Walking through the fire

(October 29, 2007)

“When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)

For the second time in four years, San Diego has “passed through the fire”. While 2,000 homes were lost, God was indeed with us. To my knowledge, none of our church buildings were lost. Some United Methodist families lost their homes, especially in the Fallbrook and Ranch Bernardo areas. Our own Liz Alexander lost part of her right ring finger while trying to rescue her horses. Liz is in good spirits and recuperating. There are many stories that will emerge in the near future that will illustrate how God was with us when we walked through this fire.

Tonight at 7:00 PM, Bishop Swenson and Superintendent Wingfield will lead “A Service of Thanksgiving, Healing, and Hope” at Hope United Methodist Church, 16550 Bernardo Heights Parkway (Rancho Bernardo area) San Diego, CA 92128. I will be at Christ Church at 6:00, and will be happy to have as many of you ride with me as my vehicle will hold. (Note: I will leave by 6:05 PM because of the traffic on I-15 at that time of day, so please be ready for a quick departure.)

Some have called this firestorm tragedy “San Diego’s Katrina”. It is ironic that we have been constantly engaged in the relief efforts in Hancock County, Mississippi, and will send another Katrina rebuilding team there next April. But now we are on the receiving end of relief efforts. Now we realize how important prayers and words of encouragement mean at a time like this. Thank you everyone, from all over the United States, for your care and concern.

Our hearts go out to everyone who has experienced loss. Tonight, we will begin to join hands in an effort to bind up our wounds and move on to a better day.

We may never get over this, but we will get through it.

From the Quote Garden
“It is with our passions as it is with fire and water; they are good servants, but bad masters.”
~ Roger L' Estrange, Aesop's Fables, 1692