So it turns out that I happen to live only about 3 miles from the origins of the Santiago fire. My sister (who lives in Tustin Ranch and is directly adjacent to Irvine) called my family on Sunday evening to see if we were ok. Because I had been watching the fire spread quickly south (towards her area), I asked her if SHE was doing ok. It turns out she was watching the news from a friends house and had no idea that the fire was anywhere near her direction. To make a long story short, my sister ended up being evacuated later that evening, but her neighborhood was thankfully unharmed (although she actually saw the fire twist towards her home for about 5 minutes before the fierce winds pushed them away).

Although my family wasn't forced to evacuate, my ever cautious wife spent Sunday evening preparing to leave just in case...preparing a box for the cats, packing some essentials, etc. I couldn't keep my eyes off the television as I watched the fires blaze so close to where we were. To be honest, I wasn't ever truly worried, perhaps due to the surreal nature of it all (as opposed to my incredible life experience and maturity! [dripping sarcasm intended]) more then anything else.

At one point during the evening, my wife asked me what I'd pack if we needed to evacuate. Without answering, I thought of packing my brand new Playstation 3 into my backback along with my laptop. My instinctual mental response caused me to realize how materialistic I can be and it also made me stop and think about what I truly consider valuable...not so much in a materialistic/physical sense, but I suppose in more of an existential manner. I'm not trying to regurgitate some overused Christianese here, but really...where is it that I truly derive my value?

Ultimately, I honestly can't fathom what it would be like to lose my physical home, not to mention my wife and family. As important as these things are, I know (or at least I THINK I know..or maybe I have momentary glimpses of when I actually DO know) that the only proper place where I ought to derive my value from is my Creator. I'm appalled by how self serving I can be and how many things in my life I've turned into idols. In all circumstances, may God be the focal point and ultimate desire. In all circumstances, blessed be the name of the Lord. Is my soul legitimately marinating with such an utterly powerful and profound Truth?

The fires are no longer a threat to where we live, although we've seen probably 100 fire trucks pass through our area, and a shelter for some evacuees is merely 2 miles from us. However, the fires rage on. Knowing that the origin of these brutal flames were so close to my home, my heart goes out to those that have lost theirs. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be. God be with all the victims.

godspeed