As I drove home yesterday evening I looked out into the darkness and saw a fire raging in the foothills to the northwest of Boulder, amid twinkling lights of homes and lives being affected. There it was–the hot raging beast that had caused 11,500 homes to be evacuated since mid afternoon. Wow, I thought to myself, I am driving home on another normal day for me, while someone out there in the night is losing their home.
Then it dawned on me that someone isn’t just losing their home, but someone out there is losing their life. If we were able to take a still of the earth, there would be more than a few approaching their last inhale. There would be many struggling with serious life-altering illnesses, the loss of a life-partner, a child. There would be far too many people lying on the ground in a weak cachectic state because they don’t have anything to eat. This is reality as it is.
And this is why we practice. The vicissitudes of life will arise and pass away, of that we can be certain. And most of the time the stuff we deal with is relatively minor compared to losing our life or our child or our home. But when the big stuff does happen we are put to the test. And then we can see how far we have (or haven’t) come.
As I type, the winds outside continue to gust and the fire is but 30% contained.
January 8, 2009 at 8:01 am
I have concerns about that larger home you point to in the photo. To date, as a species, we’re sure not rising to the challenge of preserving our environment.
Environmentalism seems to go in and out of public consciousness. When people have to pay a lot to heat their homes and fill their tanks, “going green” becomes a fad and a marketing tool for a while. But at the first opportunity people start buying big cars again…
Worst of all, there’s so very little real leadership in the world on this and other issues that really matter to our species as a whole and its future.
January 8, 2009 at 8:06 am
So glad you posted this. I just heard about the fires (yes, I live under a rock) and was thinking of you.
January 8, 2009 at 10:09 am
Thank you for sharing your insights – wonderful..
Be safe..
January 8, 2009 at 10:15 am
Fibi–you’re welcome. And thank you.
Laura–we are safe…the fire is in North Boulder and we live in south Boulder. Hopefully they get it contained today.
Paul–there is truth in what you say…although I know plenty who have dedicated their lives to the planet, and it is not a fad for them. In the end, no one person can “save the world”. Each of us has to do our part, and before we can be successful at enacting real lasting change, we have to change ourselves. I thank you for your insightful comments.
January 8, 2009 at 10:21 am
Be safe.
January 8, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I’m glad you’re safe, Molly. And I grieve for those beings, both in North Boulder and around the world, whose home is at risk.
I remember a teaching by Ajahn Chah, in which he said that our home – the physical building – along with our livelihood and possessions, are all part of the world. And the world is subject to change. But our true home, our inner home, when we settle into it, never changes and is always present with us.
May we all find that home someday soon!
January 8, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Jordan–Thanks for the well wishes.
Barry–As always, thanks for your insights. What you say is the ultimate profound truth. Yes, may we all get there soon.
January 8, 2009 at 2:19 pm
It is all part of the great recycle of death and life renewal. We can be objective from a distance and have empathy and sympathy – but if we are the ones going through it, we just want it to all go away like a bad dream. The truth is we must all take our share of suffering.
January 8, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Abigail– I think we take what we make. Thanks for your insights.
January 8, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Take care Molly.
January 9, 2009 at 4:39 am
Great post Molly! I really liked this part – “But when the big stuff does happen we are put to the test. And then we can see how far we have (or haven’t) come”. There were times in my life when the ego was all boosted up and proud of practic and bam! – big stuff happened and I realized how far I hadn’t come. I say this in a good sense – it was a good thing, kind of reality check. And this has happened more than once, rather I should say it happens periodically and now when I look back, I am thankful for these reality checks. It is lot more easier to be peaceful and calm when things are going rather well and it is amazing to see how easily mind trips when something does happen. How it forgets all about practice and gets caught in the frenzy of the moment.
On a different note, I pray for every one whose lives are affected by any kind of pain – mental, emotional, physical or financial – may the bodhisattvas help all of us with thousand arms.
Deep Metta
January 9, 2009 at 8:13 am
Gregor– thanks for the well wishes.
Taru–Thanks for your wise words. In the words of SN Goenka:
“It is easy to smile when life rolls along like a sweet song.
But the man who’s worthwile
Is the man who can smile
When everything goes dead wrong.”
January 9, 2009 at 8:31 am
The flames were crossing 49th street as I was trying to first by car, then by foot to get to my 4 horses on the other side. The llama ranch which was burning is across left hand creek from my barn. A stranger picked me up and drove me back to my car as I was out of breath. I frantically took the long route around and was relieved to find all horses safe but scared. I went home near the Boulder Res. to take my daughter away from any danger and returned to the barn. By 6 we were evacuating over 80 horses and I have no trailer for my four. Out of nowhere came trailers driven by dedicated fellow horsepeople who at their own risk and cost were going to save all the horses. I have never felt such gratitude for so many strangers. My horses were taken to a safe farm north of Longmont and we were all able to catch our breath. The effect of shock is still with me, my lungs hurt from the smoke, my eyes are globby or bursting into occasional tears, but I feel the day today with so many mixed emotions-glad for me, complete sadness for the llama farm owner, respect and gratitude for my fellow horsepeople, and a great thanks to police and firefighters who obviously know how to save most homes and ranches. In all, I feel I have faced head-on fire, became terrified, but moved through the smoke with the support of some really great people from Colorado.
January 9, 2009 at 9:15 am
Wow, Norah. What an experience. I am so thankful that you are safe, and your horses also. It is deeply moving to experience the absolute kindness from complete strangers–not out of a sense of duty but because they simply are moved to help fellow humans. It is a beautiful thing.