In our beautiful state of Colorado, we rarely get the devastating monster tornadoes that Oklahoma and other mid-west states get. We’ve yet to see a hurricane for obvious reasons. Earthquakes? At most a tiny little vibration a couple times a decade. Floods? Nothing like what those who live near the major waterways of the country. Maybe an occasional, locally fast-moving flash flood will hit a canyon and continue on out onto the plains. Blizzards you say? Well, not as often as you might think. At least not in the front range area where most of the population lives. Volcanoes? Not yet.
But wildfires…oh my goodness. Every passing year seems to get worse and worse. Last year the most notable and worst in Colorado history was the Waldo Canyon fire in and just west of Colorado Springs. Who would have thought that it could get worse than that one. This year, the Black Forest. An gorgeous, forested area north of Colorado Springs. It’s not completely out yet and it already has surpassed the devastation of the Waldo Canyon fire last year. It’s hard to imagine the agony of living in one of those threatened neighborhoods for hours and days waiting to find out if your entire life’s possessions will be going up in smoke or not. At least with most natural disasters, they happen quickly but with these fires, the people are often on pins and needles for days not knowing if they’ll be spared or not.
Psalm 34 is a chapter that I find comfort in, and I hope that those who find themselves in harm's way in Colorado Springs yet again will as well.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
