Paradise, Lost

 
 Town of Paradise, California

Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees;
every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
I baptize you with water for repentance,
but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with^[the Holy Spirit and fire.

I suppose this should be a Groundling entry, but the events of this past week have me struggling to keep up with one blog, let alone two.

There is a massive, menacing conflagration with the deceptively friendly name of Camp Fire sweeping through a part of California. It is now officially the largest wildfire in the history of the state. We used to call these  "forest fires," which meant that they destroyed unpopulated areas, perhaps taking out a few cottages. Now uncontrolled fires are so fierce and fast-moving that communities are in danger as well. In Alberta it was Fort McMurray, where 100,000 people were displaced in Canada's largest recorded wildfire evacuation in history.

This week in California the town of Paradise with a population of 30,000 went to hell, virtually destroyed by a raging fire. It moved so quickly that some people died in their vehicles, overcome by smoke and flame. Thousands of homes and the entire downtown were reduced to ash and rubble in a matter of hours, Firefighters were helpless to stop the progress. This fire and others threaten other communities in what may be another nightmare wildfire season. What are considered normal precipitation levels in the past months never materialized so everything is tinder dry.

On occasion someone will describe fires like this, or other events as being of biblical proportions. Sure, blame God and the bible. The truth is that they are of human proportions, which is far more accurate. The evidence mounts that human-influenced climate change is either creating or amplifying destructive weather events around the world. Recently Hurricane Michael, which was probably the worst weather event in Florida history, caused billions of dollars in damage and people died. Again, seaside communities were essentially washed off the map. Meanwhile Governor Rick Scott had banned the use of the term climate change in the state.



Hurricane Michael aftermath

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by speaking of fire and calling for repentance. Repentance takes many forms, including an honest appraisal of foolish ways which lead to the destruction of our planetary home. We can hope and pray that it's not to late for all of us to change our ways for the sake of our Earthly abode. Paradise isn't just some future promise folks.