A few days ago Cuz called. (My affectionate term for my cousin D.) “Did you know that Cousin G’s house burned to the ground?” He had already let us know a few days prior that Cousin G and her husband had evacuated after a warning from a helicopter that an out-of-control Oregon wildfire was quickly advancing toward their home and acreage.
Upon hearing the sad news of the total devastation, Husband and I sat in our safe, cozy living room in silence.
“They’ve lost everything,” said Husband breaking the silence, “but they’re ok.”
“I can’t imagine everything gone,” says I. “Hopefully they saved their photos and other precious things.”
“Just think of having nothing. Look around this room. Then imagine having nothing, not even silverware or plates. They’re like newlyweds- starting from nothing. They’ll have to buy everything,” says he thoughtfully.
“I hope their home insurance is fair with them,” says I.
Only two weeks prior they had put their home up for sale. Selling had seemed like the best thing to do. The remoteness of their mountain location coupled with the work of keeping up 50 acres and two homes was making aging in place questionable. It was time to get back on the grid and take life just a smidge easier. Solar panels, generators, gravel roads, and an unreliable water source make for work and hassles best left to the young.
But now in one day, everything had changed. There is nothing left to sell. Everything has gone up in smoke.
Replaying the conversation with Cousin D in my mind, I remembered saying, “Cuz, I can’t thank you enough for driving out of your way hours and hours last year to bring me those pieces of Grandmother’s furniture from Cousin G’s house.”
“Yeah,” says he. “Just think. They’d be ashes now and no one would be enjoying them.”
The last few days the air here has been increasingly thick with smoke from forest fires. Today the smell of burning forest was heavy and a smoky haze settled over our mountain. I thought of the ashes of my cousin’s home. Were some of them falling on me? If she hadn’t have been generous and given those pieces of our family heritage to me, or if Cuz D hadn’t have been willing to make the long drive to deliver them, that lovely entry bench, dressing table and mirrors would be ashes. No one would be enjoying them. Instead of sitting in my house being enjoyed by visiting granddaughters, they would be ashes blown in the wind.
“After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.” I Timothy 6:7
Made me think of our lives. Giving away is often the best thing we do. None of us can keep anything accumulated in this life. We will leave everything behind. Voluntarily sharing now what we have is a good way to ensure that we are storing up treasures that cannot be taken from us. Rewards to be enjoyed in the life without end.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Giving away things isn’t the only way we should give to others. Giving our love, care, time, and skill in generous service to family first, then our faith household, and then to our fellowman is how we please God and gain a life worth living.
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” I Timothy 6: 18-19
Hmmm….On this my __? birthday, that’s a good thought to meditate on. Shhh. I’m trying not to count anymore! Comforting to know that there is so much to look forward to beyond aging.
P.S. I just bought cloud back-up for my computer and external drives. $50/year for unlimited files from BackBlaze. One less thing to worry about in case of devastation or theft. Now to scan those hundreds (thousands?) of printed snapshots of our family from the days before digital and also get those backed up on the cloud!