BC is burning… And it has been for the last several months.
In fact the transformation of our forests into raging inferno’s is becoming a yearly occurence. Campfire bans have officially changed the menu of summertime. Say goodbye to s’mores and hotdogs and a hearty hello to your Bar-BQ.
Quesnel has been lucky so far, it’s been pretty smokey around town lately, but the fires are staying fairly distant.
We are unbelievably blessed.
The sunsets lately have been stunning. The world is painted a warm amber as streams of sunlight break through the screen of smoke. The beauty of it all stole my breath away as I looked out across the field to a stand of birch trees, pale trunks illuminated in the glow. The moon is similarily beautiful. A bright orange orb it hangs easily in the night sky flanked by an entourage of stars.
As my eyes feast on these beautiful sights my heart is torn because I know that they are the result of massive destruction. I have watched as the forests I recall from childhood memories have been altered drastically due to the presence of a very small bug.
The Mountain Pine Beetle is tiny, hardly worth noticing at first glance, but the impact it has had is enormous. Unfortunately the beetle has caused a great deal of damage to our forests.
FAITH
The Bible tells us that with faith nothing is impossible.
In fact even if we just have faith the size of a mustard seed, one of the smallest seeds around, we can move a mountain. A little bit of faith can and does go a long way.
As I’ve said before faith is not merely belief, faith is an action word. When we take a step of faith and leave it all in God’s hands we cause an enormous shift in the world around us and the impact we make is immeasurable.
Is there something in your life that is holding you back from doing what God has called you to do? Is fear keeping you from taking a step of faith? Be encouraged by the fact that even the smallest act of faith can yield great results.
Armies of teeny pine beetles turned our forests red and caused massive destruction. But destruction can be offset by good. Tiny seedlings planted in the aftermath of a forest fire will grow up to be the towering pine trees I remember from childhood.
Through acts of faith carried out in love we can plant seeds of hope in the devastated hearts of the people around us.
