Why some of us are more "blessed" than others.

Last weekend, the tinder-box that is our county went up in flames in a rapidly moving, very dangerous, out of control wildfire. I've read 6300 acres were burned. Ten homes, 11 outbuildings, numerous cars, trucks and tractors were lost in the blaze. A good-sized portion of the north part of town fell under an evacuation order that stretched for two to three days. Friends of ours were displaced. The smoke was so thick it looked like extreme fog on an horribly overcast day when in fact there were clear blue skies above. You couldn't even make out the sun last Monday, the smoke was so thick. The county was bone-dry, the grass and fields still dormant from the winter, the firefighters did their best to stay close to it and hardly ever being able to get in front of it. So much loss. So much stress for the displaced families, firefighters, and town trying to stay safe and function in the thickest smoke I've ever seen.

I've seen pictures of the lost structures. The newspaper ran a story with pictures about one of those families. The mom is an employee with my daughters school district. The paper was with them when they first saw what used to be their home. It was heartbreaking. You could feel their pain.

I've seen pictures of livestock who had no where to go to escape the flames. That's all I can say about that.

I've seen pictures of homes that once housed families with small children. Tree houses that are only a memory now. Vehicles with the tires melted off. Windshields melted onto dashboards of trucks. Pictures speak a thousand words and these are so hard to see and hear.

One picture that has stood out to me throughout this week of looking at pictures shared on social media is this one.


Pardon the poor quality, I'm new to some of this techy-stuff. Anyway, if you can make out the headline, it says "Hand unseen". The article then goes on to state the family feels the "hand of God" protected their home, that it was a miracle and surely they are blessed because He chose to spare their home.

Here's my issue: 10 families lost their homes. Why would God spare you and not them? Are you more holy? More worthy? Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled this family didn't add to the count of homes lost, but I'm very uncomfortable with where theology has gone these days.

We say we're "blessed" all the time. Blessed to have the friends we have (I've used this one myself). Blessed with good jobs. Blessed with nice homes and toys and things. Blessed when we win awards or our team wins the game. We thank God for wins, awards, material things and ask him for more. But that's not what being blessed means. We've forgotten that. Or maybe we never realized it before.

We were given his Grace. He blessed us once and only once by offering us His son to die for our sins and save us to life eternal. He did not nor does he bless us with things, homes, or acts of science that are for one and not others. He blesses us with the knowledge we will have life forever with him after the judgement when we accept his son as our Lord and live a life worthy of Him and atone for our sins. That is the blessing he has given us. Not miracles explained by science, although he did create the science, he does not control it like an XBox or PlayStation. He blessed us when he gave us Jesus.

For this family to marvel at the science behind their home being saved is one thing, and I'll certainly join in. It truly is something to behold. The devastation around the island of green is astonishing to see, but to call it a blessing when so many others lost so much just seems mean, heartless, and bad theology.

Or maybe I'm wrong on the theology part. I don't think I am, based on my reading and understanding of scripture, and if a theology professional would like to correct me I'll hear/read with an open mind. But I can't buy into the idea that this house is extra-blessed because the grass was more moist than the fields surrounding it. This family no more deserving of a miracle from God than the 10 other families who lost everything.

My heart rejoices for them and goes out to the others. I take pride in knowing how many avenues are opening up for donations for the families, how many gofundme's are being started in their names, and how the area churches, schools and businesses are rallying around them. If anything in this is a "blessing", it's that. But really, that's being a good Christian and loving thy neighbor.