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While the United States is still focused on Harvey (and they should be), I am living in the path of what may become the U.S. most major fire this year. It has jumped a full river and covers both sides of the Columbia Gorge. Eating towns alive as it goes. We live 30 miles west of it, yet since it’s eruption on Saturday the world has gotten darker, smokier, ash is falling like snow and rain. Schools are closing because the ash and air quality seep through ventilation systems. I had a doctors appointment this morning at 7:00 am. The entire building smelled like smoke.
It was started by kids setting off fireworks on a trail. Since then it has trapped 150 hikers. Taken out 4800 acres of land.
Watching and experiencing it has been amazing. I have long concurred that Nature always wins. But there is a strange biblical type sense when you experience something like this. It’s other worldly. The elements have control. Not you. If this had been lightening strike it wouldn’t make a difference. The ominousness of this is remarkable. The emotions it brings up in humans from caring compassion to fear, anxiety, and rage is something to behold.
I believe over this particular summer, I have come to a greater awe of this amazing, powerful world then I have had in a long time. I also believe that a ton of good can/will follow. Nature is supreme in that area, too.
No comments needed. Just wanted to share.
I’m in the northwest as well, mom3. I know what you are talking about. Montana currently has 800,000 acres of forest currently raging on fires. Air quality is pretty bad. Some communities evacuating. The sun looks red, kind of apocalyptic. Idaho and Wyoming is on fire too.
I wish the map of the US could be tipped and the flood water from Houston floods run up here and put out some fires.
:wtf: I was talking to firefighter on Sunday in our ward. He was saying how nature takes it’s course…and the problem here has been the forest service has been doing preventative burns and trying to suppress the fires for years…and so everything is so dry that when the lightning struck and started in remote areas…it rages and can’t be contained. Nature will do it’s thing, one way or another.
I imagine some people pray for this kind of stuff. I am one who believes nature will take it’s course, one way or another. Our stake has had a fast for more rain and cooler temperatures to help reduce fires going out of control.
I just don’t see that as something I can place any faith in. Floods, hurricanes, fires, lightening…I just don’t see God causing these to happen, but nature and it’s cycles. I don’t see God intervening to stop them or change them either.
I’ll save my prayers for the BYU football team. Seems more likely to have help moving the pigskin than putting out the forest fires. More likely than help for our president right now, methinks.
Amen Brother Heber, If God has a plan for everything (which is often the phrase) then he has a plan for this. Fires likely happened for years before people arrived. It was Nature’s way of cleaning up and restarting. Floods and Hurricanes, too. So I struggle with the idea of praying for “the temple to not flood.” It’s man made, let it go. You can rebuild.
My heart goes out to people and people’s lives. Even before our amazing inferno, I began mentally processing what I would pack in an evacuation situation. Most of the things I would choose have familial value. Much of it I would miss but could leave behind. For me I would be a people rescuer.
I am grateful to courageous fire fighters. We have one in our ward and the stories he tells just stun me. 3 or 4 years ago my son and I got to stay in the hotel that was housing fire units in the Sierra Nevada’s. The 24 hour shifts those teams do is heroic. The hotel was silent save the sound of one crew coming in and the next one pulling out. No one was swimming or racing up and down the hall to get ice. The kitchen ran 24 – 7 feeding the teams. I was choked up watching the process for the time we were there.
Good luck where you are.
As to flood waters, I am amazed we can’t figure out how to bail water from flood areas. We are a country of creators. Why we can’t fill trains and planes with water and ship it to dry areas is beyond me.
When I run for President we are going for that. – Oh and please pray for my Presidential Run – I’ve got a long ways to go to get there.
you gotz my vote :thumbup: Deal. I will make my first button for you. It will have flame on it. But I think that’s perfect on so many levels. If a flood is God’s way of “cleaning up”, he messed up. At least when it comes to houses. You must not have ever “mucked out” a flooded home where you are pulling out sheetrock, cabinets, pots and pans full of floodwater. You have to stop every once in a while or you will barf. LH – Quote:If a flood is God’s way of “cleaning up”, he messed up. At least when it comes to houses. You must not have ever “mucked out” a flooded home where you are pulling out sheetrock, cabinets, pots and pans full of floodwater. You have to stop every once in a while or you will barf.
No, no, no. That’s Heavenly Mother’s job. And she never barfs. Woman of steel that one.
Add what is happening in Florida and the Carribean — Hurricane Irma followed by another one called Jose. America’s been getting hit. I’ve been wondering if it’s because we are so unrighteous? Does that argument hold water with you (no pun intended). Is it because we are not a righteous nation? Or is it simply the luck of the draw? mom3 wrote:
LH –Quote:If a flood is God’s way of “cleaning up”, he messed up. At least when it comes to houses. You must not have ever “mucked out” a flooded home where you are pulling out sheetrock, cabinets, pots and pans full of floodwater. You have to stop every once in a while or you will barf.
No, no, no. That’s Heavenly Mother’s job. And she never barfs. Woman of steel that one.
😆 😆 😆 😆 Then explain why I have been doing that for the last 4 days to the point that my hands are so stiff I can’t hardly type?
This “God has a plan” discussion has reminded me of the Dirk Gently TV series. One of the premises of the show is that rather than every detail of things being planned and nothing being a coincidence, everything is a coincidence and thus works out as it’s supposed to. It’s quite funny other than the occasional gore. Quote:
Then explain why I have been doing that for the last 4 days to the point that my hands are so stiff I can’t hardly type?
Clearly you aren’t exalted yet. I am sure that will fix everything.SilentDawning wrote:
Add what is happening in Florida and the Carribean — Hurricane Irma followed by another one called Jose. America’s been getting hit. I’ve been wondering if it’s because we are so unrighteous? Does that argument hold water with you (no pun intended). Is it because we are not a righteous nation? Or is it simply the luck of the draw?
It’s probably because we legalized gay marriage, God is punishing Texas. They shoud’ve been more firm in the faith! As for Flordia’s impending doom, I blame Disney’s abuse of copyright law. I’m sure it also has to do with Donald Trump, and the patriarchy. Watch me shake my head in disdain for those less righteous than I!
Let us all repent and send money to Robert Tilton.Maybe then God will forgive us. In all seriousness, I don’t think it’s effective to try to make a correlation between unsubstantiated beliefs and misfortune. If natural disaster, poverty, sickness, etc was caused by God’s hand punishing the unrighteous, then explain why the MOST religious countries are also the least prosperous (Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger, Sri Lanka, Yemen). Why are some of the LEAST religous (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Japan, the UK) also the most prosperous?
Truthfully, I believe that the awful catasrophies that have recently happened, and will happen, are heavily caused by global warming; Global warming which has been caused by greedy, corrupt politicians and businessmen. So in that sense, you could say “God is punishing our nation for our wickedness”, and I’d agree with you. But those who have been hit the hardest are NOT those responsible for the distaster. As we learn from Donald Trump, you can be a failed business man, who has declared bankrupcy against loans 3x larger than your net worth, and still be one of the richest men in America. The rich can take a multi-million dollar hit, and still live in the lap of luxury. Those hardest hit are poor and powerless, many of whom will now be homeless. My heart goes out to them.
dande48 wrote:
SilentDawning wrote:
Add what is happening in Florida and the Carribean — Hurricane Irma followed by another one called Jose. America’s been getting hit. I’ve been wondering if it’s because we are so unrighteous? Does that argument hold water with you (no pun intended). Is it because we are not a righteous nation? Or is it simply the luck of the draw?
…Truthfully, I believe that the awful catasrophies that have recently happened, and will happen, are heavily caused by global warming; Global warming which has been caused by greedy, corrupt politicians and businessmen. So in that sense, you could say “God is punishing our nation for our wickedness”, and I’d agree with you.
If any of those stories sway public opinion to help get rid of the doofus in the Oval office either before the term ends or to cut out chances of a re-election, I am for such narratives. He should be punished. Where are the evengelicals and their prophets when we need them?
Quote:Those hardest hit are poor and powerless, many of whom will now be homeless. My heart goes out to them.
That is a truly Christian sentiment, dande.
Regardless of the cause of things…I believe your outlook is what we are to develop and act upon to become who we are to become in this life.
Thanks for your words. We need to help others who need it. It helps to have a church to be organized to do it. It helps to have a church with money to help humanitarian aid. They have sent lots to people in situations like this. It reminds me why churches are good ideas, even if it feels individually they create struggles…collectively, I am pleased with the church and the idea of church to help us help each other, even if imperfectly.
Heber13 wrote:
If any of those stories sway public opinion to help get rid of the doofus in the Oval office either before the term ends or to cut out chances of a re-election, I am for such narratives. He should be punished. Where are the evengelicals and their prophets when we need them?
Moderator note: I too am concerned (even scared and angry) about the direction of our country. However, please refrain from discussing politics. It is too divisive and does not help in our mission. Thank you.
I am also in Oregon. Smoke is so thick, it covers anything. My daughter thought it was fog.
dande48 wrote:
… Truthfully, I believe that the awful catastrophes that have recently happened, and will happen, are heavily caused by global warming; Global warming which has been caused by greedy, corrupt politicians and businessmen. …
I would add “ignorance” was probably the biggest component until about the last 2 or 3 decades. Nobody knew the biggest issue If you go back 50 years there was almost nobody thinking that CO2 was the biggest threat. Pollution was just starting to be seen as an issue affecting some locations. Things like certain pesticides, lead in gasoline, CFC’s, etc. were the enemy before us.And moderators – wait for the punch line before judging me. Just trying to add some (non-partisan) humor.
Did you hear that Trump outlawed shreaded cheese?
He wants to make America GRATE again!
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