A college buddy sent a note saying, "Well your neighborhood led the nightly news on three networks." That's not a good thing. Neither is it when the POTUS shows up just down the street to talk about courage.
The wind was whipping off the mountain, dense, black smoke was headed my way, the temp was 103 and rising. Who knew where that fire was going to stop? The police had halted the rush of cars driving back into the fire and were using all lanes to get fleeing residents out of the hot zone. An hour earlier officials laughed at a press-conference question regarding the possibility of closing I-25. Now they were shutting it down as yellow smoke choked this highway paralleling the Front Range. 37,000 Colorado Springs westsiders were now hunkered down at friends, shelters, hotels or just getting the hell out of Dodge.
I had worked thru this scenario many times in my head. In fact in early May I had visited with our insurance agent to discuss how I could protect the value of our property if all burned up around us, but the house was left standing. "Not possible." was his reply. Insurance companies cover tangibles, not something intangible like market value. If our place was smoking rubble we walk away with a big check, if still standing an incredible loss. Thus the emotional cross-fire of that evening, not wanting to have the property emptied of value, not wanting to lose the stuff still inside, the natural heart-tug towards our home. We knew that the Flying W Ranch was completely gone. We were perched right above the ranch. Fire burns up, right? Tears were shed.
The first solid news came via email as first one, then many friends studied aerial photos that showed what appeared to be a roof on the curve at Brogans Bluff. A friend from Alabama sent a link to a high-res photo and not only was there a roof, but green grass surrounding the house as well as hundreds of acres of charcoal beginning at the yard's edge. My son was drawn to an analogy from the next Sunday's sermon - "We feel like it's a roller-coaster ride in the dark".
So that's where we are. An opportunity to see if we hold on to our dollars with tight fists or open hands. An opportunity to see who we trust more, the Lord of Heaven and Earth or American Family Insurance.
Wow... perfectly worded. That trust conflict between God and insurance can be so difficult. Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts. As always, praying for you and your family.
Posted by: Meg Brummer | July 08, 2012 at 23:18
Dad just so you know... Brian Counts quoted that to me Wednesday night after you called and told me the house was still there. Well worded post by the way...I think you put into words what so many people are feeling!
Posted by: lauren | July 10, 2012 at 11:14
Doug - Glad to hear that your home made it through the fire, but I'm sure there are still some difficulties to overcome. We have been praying for you!
Dave for the Diaso family
Posted by: David Diaso | July 11, 2012 at 17:41