Where's Your Fire?

What's happening around us?

Nevada, Puerto Rico, TX, FL, Maine. Yup, Maine. It's all a mess. Here in my little world things are as heart wrenching to me as shootings and natural disasters are to others. It's the personal toll that trajedies in life take that makes one paralyzed with fear and doubt. Just as someone suddenly without a home, or loved one is devastated and feeling forsaken, the emotional toll of broken relationships whips you to your core.

How cold I sound, comparing the loss of homes, livelyhoods and loved ones to the emotional strain of broken relationships. Forgive me. I just don't know how else to express the profound confusion and sadness I feel over these deeply personal struggles.

In general my daily life is happy because I can compartmentalize. However, when I take the time to listen to others and share in the struggles of friends, I am reminded that all is not well. I don't need the daily news for that.

For me, I must always filter what I hear through the words of the Bible. The message of Christ to the nations, and to the individual. I used to spend a lot of time trying to solve the ills of the state and nation by working in politics. I was working in my church at the same time. I was also homeschooling our children, at the same time. My political efforts died the night of the 2012 election; it was a 12 year stint that seemed to crash and burn. I couldn't do it anymore. My homeschooling efforts ended on May 31st when our youngest graduated in a full-out cap and gown ceremony. Twenty five years of directing the education of our children culminated in four new adults added to the world. My church work remains. I made a concious decision to leave politics behind in favor of using my time and skills in the church, and in my personal life, to effect change in the culture.

The culture is comprised of a myriad of institutions, one of which is the church. The church is comprised of families. Sometimes that's the only way we see them. The Smith Family, the Peters Family, the Fuller Family. These families may be known as the musical family, or the sports family, or the used to live in FL family. Do we look any deeper? We should. Do I look any deeper? Rarely. Sad, but true. People need us on an individual level. They need us to hear them. Listen and really HEAR them. Hear their plight and help them see a way of hope. A way to make a change, or a way to know that they are, indeed, headed in the right direction. The church is comprised of families, and these families are comprised of people. Individual people.

I've always said I'm not good with people. When I don't know you, I get all tongue tied. Being left alone with another introvert that I don't know well is the biggest form of torture for me. My friends all know that once you get me started, it's hard to shut me up. The new introvert, however, HELP!! I guess that is why I have always pinned myself as the awkward behind the scenes administrator, rather than the out in front teacher. Yet, as true as this all feels to me, I will shout fire in a crowded room because I KNOW that I KNOW that there is danger. I am confident that I am right and must speak.

Lately I feel like I have been yelling "FIRE" and no one is listening. What would you do if that happened. I have seen and felt the smoke and flames, but no one is moving. Everyone is telling you that they were outside 30 minutes ago and there was no smoke or fire so I'd better go back and reevaluate. WHAT? "I felt it, I saw it, I smelled it. It's there!!! LEAVE the building, or you will get hurt, or worse!" They won't because even when the theater manager told the theater owner, who is their friend, that there was danger in the old wiring, the theater owner dismissed it as nonsense and lies designed to make him look irresponsible. WHAT? The theater manager is an electrician! He found the dangerous wiring. Why don't you at least go look at it yourself. Now, however, it is too late. The building is on fire, but the attendees believe the owner despite the obvious flames. I'll yell until I can't yell anymore.


Catastrophes. Broken churches. Broken families. Broken people. So sad.