Anyway, I hadn't heard from him since last fall, so I sent a very brief Facebook message:
"Happy New Year...a little late"
Little did I know the irony and truth in those words. Last night, Mike replied. The following are excerpts of his message -- posted with his permission. I can add nothing to the brilliance of this irony and perspective...
Thanks for your message! So, do you have a moment? Well, I can't tell a short story especially comes to a story where God is AWESOME and does incredible things in the midst of less than . . . well, happy circumstances. Mind you, unhappy circumstances don't have to mean that they aren't full of joy because . . . I guess that will be apparent in a bit.
What were you doing December 30? I had the day off. My aunt was coming back from Louisiana, so I got up early to pick her up at the train station. As is my custom, I fixed the fire in our wood-burning furnace and emptied the ashes into an ash bucket which I put on the concrete patio. That was about 6 a.m., and I took off about 7:30.
About 8 a.m., Ruth (wife) woke up because she smelled smoke, but didn't think much of it as it was an extremely windy day and sometimes the smoke backs up through the furnace leaving a whiff. It happened again about 10 minutes later and again she rolled over and went back to sleep. A little while later, she heard a pop and went downstairs to investigate. This time the smoke smelled like there was some plastic like substance burning. She went outside and found the pile where we keep the wood to be burned afire. The fire had gone up the outside wall of the house. She called 911 and drug the BBQ grill with its butane tank out of harm's way. She then grabbed her purse and backed the car out of the garage and far from the house. The firemen responded fairly quickly, but the fire was already engaged on two-thirds of the back of the house and had gotten into the attic. From there it just went crazy, consuming the attic, the roof and started working its way through the rest of the house.
Meanwhile, I am in St. Louis when Ruth calls me. By the time I get home, the roof is down and it is a pretty spectacular site. People are coming from everywhere offering assistance and the firemen are incredible in their sensitivity, their professionalism, and their overall dedication and concern. The fire is considered "out" by early afternoon, but we are warned that there will be hot spots which could flame up again. We stay for a while noticing that some smoke is increasing in intensity. We call the fire chief and he sends out a team who find a live fire amidst the rubble. They put it out and soaked down the area.
In the midst of this, I am amazed again by how many people have come out to support us and just be there. Ruth doesn't have shoes or a coat and the neighbors bring a blanket and slippers. My cousin "couldn't stand being at work knowing what was going on" and spent the entire afternoon with us. She brought a whole bunch of Kleenex. Another cousin brought toilet paper. I found myself joking and laughing with people and despite the circumstances (which also brought more than a tear or two) found that I was actually full of peace and joy. My sister came and as we hugged and shook together I had to ask her if she was laughing or crying cause I was laughing -- joy, joy, joy. She couldn't help but laugh a bit too.
We went to my parents and my nephew, who came down with his wife, brought things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, a razor, shaving cream, and other essentials. Then, they went and got the essentials for Gracie our cat.
Kayla (daughter) was at a friend's sleeping over and Byron (son) was in Champaign. My niece called the Red Cross who came and gave us a credit card to use on food and clothes. It was amazing.
That night before bedtime, we prayed together and commented on how much we were at peace considering the circumstances. Sleep wasn't particularly restful and at 3 a.m. Ruth's sister who happened to be on vacation in Ireland called. It seems it was becoming an international incident. At 3:30 a.m., a neighbor called and said that he had called 911 as the remainder of the house (the garage and a good portion of the kitchen had remained) was now engaged. By the time I got there, it was all gone. Oddly, the room that was least affected was our bedroom. Incredible.
So, let me give you some numbers. I have written 70 thank you notes, in addition to the ones that Ruth and Kayla wrote -- and not counting the e-mail I sent thanking the almost 30 people at work for their support. My boss drove 40 miles to be there when he heard. We have received more gift cards than there are stores and restaurants and enough contributions to pay off the debt of several Pacific nations. No one got hurt. And in the end, nothing significant was lost. How's that? Kayla and I have agreed, that we can't think of much of anything in that house that meant even a tenth of what all of those well wishers and supporters mean to us.
Memories? Yes we lost some photos and other things; but the crazy thing is we haven't looked at them in years and there is a good chance we never would have. It's all stuff -- and if you don't mind me saying -- nonsense. There are things we need, but nothing NOTHING is more important than relationships: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and, mind you, love your neighbor as yourself for when the end comes and all burns as it surely will, those are the only things we have!
Funny stuff:
- On the morning of the 31st we didn't ask "What should I wear today?"
- We went to Panda Express and the fortune cookie said, "Health and prosperity will come to your door". We don't have a door.
- My sister was tempted to bring marshmallows. Her husband stopped her.
- We all had thoughts prior to the fire (Ruth, Kayla and I) that we never discussed amongst ourselves that basically went like this: What are we ever going to do with the extra junk we have in our house? God has a great sense of humor.
Right now we are living in a two bedroom house. It's furnished down to the dishes and the bed linens. The insurance company has been amazing and today we received checks for more money than I have ever had in my possession at one time. And in a couple of months, when our prayers are answered, we are going to have a new house (almost in time for our 25th wedding anniversary) that we can use to bring glory to God's name for the things He has done for us.
I have to tell you that the casual way we say "God is Good" doesn't come anywhere near what God truly is!!!
So that's about all for now. Hope your year is going half as well as ours, because we have been blessed beyond measure and we have been used to allow others to follow where God leads in order to do what He says: love. And the crazy thing is, He even tells them the correct method to do that in accordance with His formula, plan, and gifting.
God bless you my friend!!!! It's chow time . . .
