Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 19, 2025
I began, we began, seeing video of the Pacific Palisades hillside fire and the push of Santa Ana winds on January 7. Today, 12,000 homes have burned with thousands displaced and at-risk for dreams, hopes, and memories to be lost somewhere in the sudden need to flee. Some with a “Go Bag,” others only a t-shirt, holding tightly to a pet, all suffering the loss of everything. The fires and winds exposed gaps in fire protection, water, insurance coverage, conflicts in the planning, preparedness, and decisions of local political leadership.
Somehow in this over-whelming tragedy and sadness, there are immediate signs of Hope and the restoration of Light. Individual and corporate donations of millions are announced daily. World Central Kitchen, food/clothing resources, churches and restaurants have all coordinated resource sites to begin to fill in the holes. Concerts and digital performances were quickly scheduled with other events cancelled. Web sites matched lost pets with owners and the merging of education resources with teachers to reopen schools show the resiliency of individuals and communities.
For me, the questions are how we live with the reality of future fire, winds, and destruction. The same questions are asked about Midwest tornados, coastal hurricanes, prolonged drought, disease impacting food supply and the physical health of young and elders.
In addition to weather, sudden, unexpected destruction or loss may be experienced as a family death or illness. Businesses are reducing staff and many have closed. Funding to organizations that provide services and care are no longer assured of their future as a workplace.
Each of these moments of pain and suffering are also teaching moments, with life lessons and wisdom more powerful than when our lives are calm. We all want to find a place where everything works, is safe, and creates no harm to others, animals, or the environment.
Here are Four Paths that may perhaps give us common ground to understand and retain balance in times of destruction and loss. 1) Deny the myth that we are all separate. You are members of a family, neighborhood, and community, whether you are now homeless and your community for away. 2) Yes, pay attention to the news, but protect yourself from becoming over-whelmed or your sense of joy replaced with ongoing sadness. 3) Look for and find ways to engage the sacred, the spiritual, whether a place, event, or within a group of those open to exploring being curious and a witness to the wonder around us. 4) Stretch your heart with compassionate action with those suffering pain in the losses of perhaps a place where they fit within family or the broader world.
The images and stories of loss are present with us. The LA fires touch us on the human level wherever our home is, still safe from current harm.
Roy, with compassion for those with loss seeking their way forward
Thank you Roy for putting into words the scope of the terrible description of the LA fires and for showing us a way forward in our thoughts and actions.
Martha
Friend Martha, this one pager took 3 days to writer. Start, stop, think, reflect, write.
I did have desire to write broader than the fires, even as over-whelming as they are.
Thank you for comments…..more, more.
Thank you for this helpful, enfolding letter. I plan to print it out and keep it close as a useful map out of sadness and, even, despair into being of daily and moment by moment service. I’d add a reminder from AA – “Do the next right thing.”
Forever friend Marcia….on this one I did more being still, reflecting than hands on keyboard.
Your posting encourages to keep at it, even next Sunday.
I will add 1 additional…..not a path or journey to be taken alone, even with Ken.
Your strength is found in the strength of other pilgrims who share the path, pulling us back on when we stumble or wander,
Always connected, and that is Good. RB
Thank you for your insight Roy and your 4 ways to go forward in a world that is so broken right now. As our wonderful Pastor says, “ the worst thing is not the last thing.” We need to look forward.
Wonderful pastor indeed. Agree.
Compassion is also good words for the destruction and chaos of our now.
Friends invited us to Asian place we did not know. Delightful, taste pleasing servings and uncrowded tables.
We 3 will soon be there.
This SL was more reflection time, being still, than keyboarding.
Appreciation and wellness with and for you. RB
Good morning. one of your best letters Roy.. I lived in San Diego County for two decades.. the Santa Ana winds.. the mere mention creates fear and anxiety…. Fire danger has been there forever.. what makes it rougher today is the densely populated areas.. more people, more people affected… thanks again Roy.. Happy Sunday..
Helpful background comments Mike.
This SL clear in my head, hard to move to my fingers.
“Compassionate Action a phrase that fit me today.
We have a week of noise and distraction ahead.
My best to you both as we travel the path together.RB
Beautifully done. Practicing the art of not being overwhelmed on so many fronts. Good reminders of the path.
Friend Roger.
I have a 12:15 book club gathering on an amazing read. An Unfinished Love Story….Doris Kearn Goodwin. A story of the 1960’s. Her husband was long time DC inside and speech writer, and witnessed to the events that formed my early life. Highly recommend.
Writing this one pager took 3 days….write, stop, think. write some more.
Selecting topic has emerged as its own art form.
Thank you for good words of encouragement for next Sunday, perhaps back my reflections on money; might be the right week to do so.
I love your call to the world neighborhood to be listeners and involved in the pain brought by disruption of normal life. Whether disasters, or loss of humanity, we all need one another to exhibit compassion and hope. Thank you, Dear Roy for your eloquence in all matters of life affecting the world community.
Would you and Harry move to our neighborhood????
We could order pizza, talk in on the porch or backyard
Your comments encourage me to go deeper, continue on….and I will.
Thank you in all ways….Rb
The Four Paths you outlined are wonderful guideposts. I will print them out as well, keeping in mind that the “common good” that Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 refers to all of creation without exception. Your love is a good example of this. Thank you, Roy.
Your words encouraging and supportive.
I stare at the screen not always knowing topic or first letter.
We stumble together do we not?
Yes to all creations……world citizens we be. RB
You boldly carry forward words of wisdom, truth and resilience. Thank you for each Sunday letter, a gift to your community. X/O Linda M
No one, especially me, stumbles on the path alone, especially me
I do so with encouragement from you, others.
Beth is the true editor, always making the draft better.
What we do and be we do and be together….