Some through the Fire

Do I really need a fire in my life, God?

Afraid of Fires?

You’re not alone. No one wants to lose their home, their belongings or their loved ones in a fire. There are over 350,000 house fires in the United States each year.  No wonder people suffer from pyrophobia or fear of fires. Most commonly, they occur from cooking accidents or heaters. Regardless of the inciting incident, fires can spread quickly and are the cause of over 4,000 deaths per year.  If you live in a city, you will have the fastest access to fire resources, but not everyone lives close to a fire station.

 Mountain Dwellers

Fires in the remote parts of our country represent a whole different scenario. When I lived in the Boise National Forest, residents had their fair share of chimney fires, and occasionally we lost a cabin to fire. Our little fire station was strategically located in the middle of the 12 mile stretch of Highway 21 that makes up the unincorporated town of Lowman. It was run by volunteers with radios who were on call for 24-hour shifts. Together with our EMT’s and ambulance drivers, we did what we could to keep our people safe.

Forest fires, though, were a valid concern.  Signs along the highway warned summer recreationalists of the current fire hazard. In August, during drought years, camp fires were often banned as the danger reached the extreme level. If thunderstorms brought lightning, we were all vigilant to watch our beloved woods until the storm passed by.

On more than one occasion, we could see flames across the river on a remote mountain. Firefighters would be brought into the area in busses and trucks. If the fires grew too close to housing areas, people were placed on standby for possible evacuation. It could be a bit unnerving, but it was the price we all paid to live in what we often called Heaven on Earth.

Our home was actually built on the site of a major burn. My uncle called the hillside above our residence “Stick Mountain” as many trees had been destroyed in the fire of 1987. The remaining pines were scattered and newly planted saplings were eaten by local deer and elk before they could grow to any size.

Could any good ever come from a forest fire? As a matter of fact, it can.

 The Lodgepole Pine

Wood from the lodgepole pine is important for paper, posts, paper and lumber. Its seeds provide food for squirrels, chipmunks and grouse. They are a tall, slender species whose needles are quite sharp and grow bunched together in pairs.

The lodgepole is a hearty tree, and we might learn a lesson in adaptability from this tree. You see, it can grow from middle elevations clear up to the timberline. It can be found in dry sandy soil as well as water-logged bogs.

The tree’s bark is thin and very susceptible to fire, but the seed cones play a special role in the event of a fire.  Seeds are sealed with a resin that only heat can release. When a fire hits a stand of lodgepole pines, millions of seeds might be set free to start new forests. Their species are called ‘fire dependent’ trees. A good burn also hastens the decomposition of organic matter that provides nutrients to the soil. After a fire, it is one on the first of the forest trees to begin growing again with new vigor.

 Lessons for People

There is an old gospel song called, “God Leads His Dear Children Along” by Jason Saetveit and Richard Hall.  The lyrics begin by taking the listener on a journey through rich, green pastures. As the melody continues, the mood changes to a more somber tone. God leads, “some through the water, some through the flood, some through the fire.”

God leads us through fires? Yes, we live in a fallen world where troubles exist, but fires? Yes, fires too. I have seen first hand the devastation fires have caused in some of my favorite forest. Sometimes it takes decades for the land to recover, even after planning new trees.

The home we owned in Lowman had been built on the site of the huge 1989 fire. Trees were replanted on the hillside above are home, but most were eaten by deer and elk. In some places the soil was so hot it became sterilized and nothing but bitterbrush and sage would grow. Still, though the trees were few in areas, each one seemed more that survived seemed more precious.

 Fires Storms in Our Lives

Sometimes, we might feel like we are undergoing a trial by fire. There are seasons where everything we know and love appear to be threatened.  We might wonder, where is God in this mess? Is He allowing us difficult times in order that we learn to depend more fully on Him? Might new growth come from what has been destroyed?

Remember, the lodgepole pine needs the fire or its species might be gone forever. Even if we can’t see the good in our lifetime, can we trust that God knows best what we need?

The song lyrics don’t end with the section about the fire though.  God is still guiding us. The words say, “Some through the water, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood.” The fact that Jesus suffered and died for our sins makes any suffering we experience on earth only temporary. If we believe, trust and obey Him, we will have a heavenly home with no more pain or sorrows.

Here's are some closing thoughts on our hard times.

I Peter 4:13

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ.” He who was intimately involved with suffering will walk alongside you and give you His comfort.