Fire in Us Deep grief with the devastation of wildfires teaching campfire songs to my grandchildren as we gather around the fire, faces and hearts aglow witness of the fire-red setting sun Witnessing from afar and grieving for those impacted by the forest fires - and grieving that our world is on fire and warming more than ever. first early spring bonfires and easy conversation, then raging forest fires surrounding and/ or burning homes and communities I know, flames of passion for new ministries Fire was the voice of our summer. A tension unrelenting. Watching and waiting and wondering, what if? The feeling of dread at the thought of evacuation. What to save? Where to go? Fire of anger, I choke on frustration, these smokescreens of ignorance, fire of anger Blackened trees, burned grass, loss Fire : humans become small, insignificant, vulnerable. Finally obedient. Smoke in the skies made me so thankful for the filtering power of foliage smoke, haze, emotions, clouding my vision oh the scorching heat waves of this summer one after another… and one long fire ban …oh how we’ve missed our fires…. and the stories that are told… prayer fatigue for lives large and small destroyed by fire upon fire upon fire
A poem from the Green Exodus community about the element, Fire composed with the offerings of numerous voices. September 2021