“In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
Every minute, every moment
Where I've been and where I'm going
Even when I didn't know it or couldn't see it
There was Jesus” - Zach Brown/Dolly Parton
Epiphany wakes the July rain dawn a summer day driving forests of grey branches stoking green amidst the Santiam stretching her glassy bounty jumping bold boulders of mossy diffused golden flora damn the river Detroit lakeshore once her sunken tree stumps naked fiery smoke blowing waterside paintings of opalescent life buried in broken pieces a fisherman ripples hope in the distance and there was Jesus... - Epiphany | deborah t. hewitt
More on the Santiam Fire -
This great fire will always hold meaning to me. After months of covid isolation, and dealing with a terrible family estrangement, that shattered my soul into a thousand pieces, we were finally able to hit the road and see my parents for a few weeks in August 2020. We realized my bold, 6’2” dad looked very thin. By September he had fallen and received over 30 stitches in his hand. Not long after… they were preparing to evacuate. If you click the link for the fire, their neighborhood looked just like that for days. We returned in November knowing dad wasn’t well. Driving through this fire area was devastating to see. I couldn’t stop the tears. So many people lost everything. We were losing my brave dad too. Many homeless were never accounted for.
Four years later, now sitting in mum’s home, lots of sickness, a very unwell dog, feeling a bit trapped in all the varying personalities, including our own struggle to find grace for each other - we finally took a drive up the canyon yesterday. The words “Santiam Strong” resonated on freeway overhangs and t-shirts we wore, reminding us of the Grand Prix fire we went through as a family, at the fire’s edge, holding the line and the blessings. Our life.
There was Jesus. He’s always there in the broken pieces.
And as I write this many are fleeing fires in Oregon and California. My prayers, my heart, are with them. With their lost homes, pets, wildlife. Forests shattered. I know that Jesus wants to help them pick up the broken pieces. And I know He's got them in heaven too. He's got you and me. We don't have to walk alone. ox
My heart goes out to everyone and every animal and plant that have suffered through these horrible fires the last four or five years. I remember the summer of Covid 2020 being smothered in smoke from the Pier Fire here near Sequoia. The fairgrounds, and airport are just a few short miles from our ranch. The fairgrounds were used as an encampment for refugees from the fire. And the airport was used as a base station for the firefighters. I drove by the fairgrounds and my heart would go out to all the people and all of their animals. Tons of livestock trucks were parked. Many animals safe in all the pens. ❤️🔥😔
A relative of ours who lived in Paradise was lost in the fire. His ID continued to be used by someone collecting his Social Security checks. Authorities never stopping it.
Reading your story and poem reminded me of my own experiences. Fortunately out of these Phoenixes more beautiful trees, plants, animals and people caring for God‘s country will be born. Your poem conveys that message — the cycle of life and death, and the intertwining of the physical and spiritual realms. Bless you, @Deborah T. Hewitt , thank you! 💜✨🙏
Your words capture life beautifully. Thanks for sharing this. ❤️