The Whittier Fire started on July 8 in central California.
It burned more than 10,000 acres in 2 days. This image was taken one week later when high winds caused it to expand even further. As of August 4th, it has burned 18,430 acres, is 87% contained, and expected to be fully contained by the end of the month. Living so close to an active wildfire is a little unsettling, to say the least. You want to go in with water buckets and help firefighters, but you can't. So you watch, stay vigilant, hope everyone is okay, and help where you can.
Driving through the burn areas afterward, I'm easily reminded of how quickly things can change. I was surprised to see that, in some places, trees were still standing. How could that happen with such intense heat? They say there was so much old growth and fresh grasses that the fire burned quickly through the underbrush.
It's important to recognize the devastation, the damage, the loss, but soon new life will sprout and the forest will return. After all, this area last burned in 1955.
It reminds me of the changes in our lives. Some are not so extreme, while some seem just devastating. But, in time, we will recover if we remember our resilience, determination, and intention; if we remember that healing is in our nature.
True, things will be different, but they most certainly can change in good ways if we are willing to look and remain open to those opportunities.