I don't know where you are as you read this, but things have been downright apocalyptic here in the NorthWest with well over 100 wildfires burning in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Some locals jokingly refer to our four seasons as hunting, skiing, fishing and fire...but even our usual "grin-and-bear-it" sense of humor is starting to run dry as we have been socked in with increasingly hazardous smokey skies for days on end.
One or two days, even a week of smoke is pretty usual this time of year, and generally bearable, but when it starts to spread over multiple weeks and the brilliant blue dog-days of summer become a distant dream, you can be sure that cabin fever, irritation, general impatience and malaise are sure to follow.
I've been thinking how much the weather has resembled my emotional state the last several weeks - and whether my soul is mimicking the smoke or it is just a coincidence of timing - I find it a little ironic...
If you read my last post you know that we've been battling little fires of our own on all fronts...finances, relationships, uncertainty of the future, health, school - you name it, we've had a bit of it. Nothing major. Nothing catastrophic. But all those little fires sure produce a lot of spiritual smoke and it can be hard to see the big picture through the haze.
In my struggle to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 4:18), I decided I would try to find the good in the wildfires raging across the land and what I gleaned has some amazing spiritual applications as well...So stick with me for a minute, it will all make sense in the end.
Wildfires 101
Wildfires are "powerful change agents that shape ecosystems. The specific pattern of fire - including how frequently it burns, how hot it burns, and during which season—helps dictate the types of plants and animals found in a given area." (www.nature.org) They have four major benefits:
1. Encouragement of new plant growth
Wildfires are a necessary contributor to habitat vitality and renewal. Many plant species in naturally fire-affected environments require fire to germinate, establish or reproduce. (wikipedia.org)
2. Creation of more space
Periodic fires can open up sections of the forest canopy, creating an opening for smaller plants that need lots of sunlight to grow; this stimulates diversity in the forest ecosystem.
(Discovery Education)
3. Forest management
By burning forest litter, fires release nutrients present in forest litter that would otherwise decompose very slowly and not be as readily available for the benefit of plants and wildlife. They also reduce the number of pathogens and insects that could cause longterm harm to the ecosystem.
(Discovery Education)
4. Ecological revitalization
Fire suppression can lead to the build-up of flammable debris and the creation of less frequent but much larger more destructive wildfires.
(wikipedia.org)
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There you have it.
If you weren't bored to tears with the unexpected natural science lecture, maybe you were able to catch as I did how amazingly these natural phenomenon mirror seasons of fire in our own lives. I noticed four major correlations to our spiritual seasons of renewing:
1. Encouragement of new spiritual growth
When we feel like our lives are under fire, maybe our perspective needs to change. Even though it goes against our natural grain, the bible tells us to count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4, ESV) The new growth - steadfastness - does not come without the trials, or fires, of life.
2. Creation of more space
Maybe I'm the only one, but my life is crazy. You'd think as a stay-at-home mom that maybe it'd be a little more sane than if I were running kids to a million activities or trying to get to work everyday, but even if my days on the outside seem rather tame, my mind is a veritable wasp nest of thoughts, plans and emotions.
When all the little fires pile up, it can be really hard to get any real grasp on reality or sense of direction. But I've been finding that they are giving me an opportunity to lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely so I can run with endurance the race that is set before me. (Hebrews 12:1)
When all the craziness and struggles crowd close, the light of the fires reveal my true self. My true character, strengths and failings. When rubber meets the road and my back is up against a wall all the imperfections and hidden angst come boiling out and I come face-to-face with the hidden realities that are holding me back in my walk with Christ. My exhaustion and fear give way to anger, impatience, jealousy, cattiness and selfishness. It is not pretty my friends - but the renewing work of the Holy Spirit burns away the spiritual litter and creates space in my soul for God to work.
It also gives me a chance to simplify and throw off weights that are holding me back and weighing me down. Weight isn't necessarily a bad thing - but too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and it's times like this that I need to reduce my commitments and the things that are getting in the way of me becoming who God has for me to be. Busyness doesn't always equal righteousness.
Along with the creation of space is...
3. Spiritual management
Creating space in my soul requires the removal of spiritual garbage so it can flourish and add new growth. These icky parts of me that float to the surface when under pressure do so in order for the Spirit to skim off the filth and replace it with the fruits and holiness he offers. Spiritual scrubbing is not comfortable, but the soft tender heart it reveals is worth the pain.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32
And finally,
4. Spiritual revitalization and regrowth
Without pruning, flowering plants cannot reach their full fruitful potential. These hard seasons, these testing of the faith and dark valleys are pruning what is temporary and producing in me the fruits that will last...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:2) When God cuts away the dead areas of my life, it is for my benefit. I'd rather have the pain of pruning and renewal than the permanency of spiritual death and destruction.
So all this smoke?
Yes, it's uncomfortable. It limits my vision, makes me feel claustrophobic and a bit panicky. There are moments when it feels a little difficult to breathe. Too much is bad for my health, but it is these seasons of trial and uncertainty and haze that force me to PRESS IN, and PRESS ON. Instead of worrying about everything and solving nothing, I am looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of {my} faith. The moments of pruning seem painful, but I have faith that later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:2,11)
I know above all this haze, the Son is still shining.
Hang in there dear ones. Brighter days are a comin'.
All is grace,
Carie
P.S. Two hours after I finished drafting this post it rained and today dawned bright with puffy clouds and sunshine! Here's hoping we've seen the last of the hazey days...For this year at least.
