Dripping Springs UMC

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Pastor David Skinner

Date: 2011-09-06 16:03:40
Title: Fire!

Fire!

I was enjoying my wife’s family reunion on Sunday evening when I got the call concerning the fires. Adam and I quickly got our facilities staff ready in case of evacuees. We host a couple of families. We are so fortunate to have a staff, leadership, and membership that long to serve others in the name of Christ. I chose to leave that night arriving at midnight to the church. We checked on evacuees and then went home to prepare for our own possible evacuation. I went to bed at 3:30 am.

The interesting thing was packing for our own possible evacuation. I found it an amazing exercise to determine what should be packed to go and what could be lost. The entire time I was packing up stuff Mother Teresa’s words were haunting me, “If it takes more than ten minutes for you to pack, you own too much.” Boy that I feel that. However, I did find the exercise a great lesson is learning what is important. I found that heritage, our relationships, ministry, and family trumped value and money every time. May be you learned a little about what’s important too. I am now thankful for the exercise.

We will be mobilizing in the next couple of days to help the victims. Watch for more info.

IN JC PD

[Post Comment]

Date: 2011-09-24 05:43:48
Name: julie
I believe that was the topic of conversation everywhere we went. What would you take with you if you had to pack for evacuation??? That question became very real, I did have to have a bag ready just in case and yes it did take less than 10min. We live in a material world for sure, but none of it is worth losing a life over. I could see the smoke in the east from the Bastrop fires and the smoke in the west from the DS fires. Then smoke drifted down our canyon and I knew the fires were too close for comfort even though they were still miles away. It was amazing how small our world became during those horrible fire days and feeling helpless to assist those in need. Everyone we talked to knew someone affected by the fires. It is comforting and assuring to know that our Church is ready, willing and able to help at a moment's notice. Thank you to all those who helped when it was needed most. Wish it didn't take a disaster for us to realize what is most valuable to us or understand more the needs of others. Thank you David, very thought provoking.

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