The Wildfires

With wildfires raging all around us, our community is in the grip of uncertainty. Watching the news, gazing at the clouds of smoke billowing on the horizon, smelling the burning timber, and being rained upon with ashes cause us to realize that our earthly possessions--yes, even our life itself--can be snuffed out in seconds. Everything we possess can be destroyed in a moment.

This past week my writing students composed haiku poetry. The classical structure of the Japanese 17th century style consists of three lines per verse, the first and third lines consisting of five syllables, and the second line containing seven syllables. Jett Shipper, a seventh grade student at Salem Lutheran School, poignantly captured the emotions of the week in a three-line haiku poem entitled "Fire!" Jett also utilized the figurative language of onomatopoeia, which is the use of words that imitate sounds. Jett has given permission to have his poem published here.

(Jett had a picture of a house fire inserted here that I am unable to copy onto the blog, unfortunately.)


Fire

By: Jett Shipper
September 6, 2011

Ouch! The fire’s hot.
Wow! The house goes up in flames.
Dang! The house is gone.

Even in these anxious days, we have the certainty of God's loving relationship with us, His children. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress...or danger...?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life...nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39"

Therefore, in the midst of our perilous days, we have the assurance that our lives are in the grip of a faithful God who loves and cares for us. Even when the foundation of our home crumbles in flames, we can respond with strength knowing that the foundation of our life is built on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ. In the midst of disaster, we can find security in the arms of the Almighty God.

"I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' Psalm 91:2"