This is dedicated to my friend, Liz.
In 1988, a total of 793,880 acres of Yellowstone National Park were destroyed by fire. It was the worst fire in the parks history. 1/3 of the park was destroyed. Most people believed this disaster was the end of the nation's first national park.
In just a few years after the fire, the grasslands returned to their pre-fire beauty. The bears were actually observed grazing more in the burned areas than the unburned areas. And, extensive research revealed that there were actually benefits of forest fires to the ecosystem.
Today, charred lodge pole pines stand as reminder of the devastation the park endured. But they stand in the midst of fresh, live seedlings and bright young trees that has God put in place in the midst of the devastation.
So, here's what I'm thinking: Everyone has a "forest fire" or two (maybe more) in their life that causes irreparable harm. And, in the midst of it, we believe it's the end of our happiness. How can we ever be happy again? How can you smile again or laugh again? This pain is too great.
But just as research shows the benefits of a fire to the ecosystem, our personal "fires' provide benefits too. We gain wisdom and knowledge that cannot be learned any other way. We gain a deeper understanding of life. We learn humilty and feel God's grace. Just as the forest is re-born, so are we. We rise changed, but stronger, more beautiful and wiser.
Just as the charred lodge pole pines serve as a reminder, so do our scars and our broken hearts, which may never heal. It serves as a reminder of a more difficult time, not to dwell on it, but in the midst of all the present goodness.
I pray we all can allow ourselves to rise above the ashes and show our new beauty as nature demonstrates for us at Yellowstone.
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