Up in smoke...

Quite literally that was the scene today. As I pulled up to the house the fire trucks were leaving. Strange. I thought the firemen were supposed to go "to" the flame instead of away. But as I talked to my friends the reality began to sink in. The house was a total loss so there was no point to try and save anything.

As we stood in the road and prayed together I said the one thing everybody always says. It seems so silly when everything you owned, every picture, piece of clothing, every piece of paper, child's Christmas ornament, everything that the world says "defines" us is gone. But, at least it's only stuff. Your lives are saved.

I suppose this is the best picture of our lives in Christ. We gather up so many things that can't withstand the flames, but that we believe make us who we are. Think about it. Our clothing defines our taste. We decorate our homes so it expresses our unique personality. Shoes. Pictures. Even our dishes have become extensions of our personality and so who we are is seen in what we have. But the Bible tells us that we should store up for ourselves things that moth and rust can not destroy and thieves not break in and steal. We are to store up "who we are" in heaven. By the things we do, think, say.

That way, if we loose all the stuff here we won't be forgotten, there. So, my prayers tonight are with my friends, strength, wisdom to know what to do, patience when the pressure is on, joy in the midst of the flames of fear and the unknown. Praying for you.