After the fire: How I prayed

Originally appeared on spirituality.com

A recent Christian Science Monitor article highlighted the ramifications of the extreme drought facing the state of Texas (see weekly edition, 9/26/11, page 18). From reduced crop yields and lower cattle herds to trees dying or burning, the challenges seem very real and all but insurmountable. But the lessons I learned after a recent trip to the Lone Star state give me hope.

My parents’ house was one of the more than 1,500 claimed by the Bastrop Complex Fire which burned more than 34,000 acres in Central Texas. I recently went to help them dig through the rubble and begin the process of recovery.

And yet, as a Christian Scientist, I knew I could do more. More than just bringing a trunk full of tools, I could bring an uplifted thought, one aligned with God, which would not be overwhelmed by the picture of loss and destruction. I strove to affirm and witness the love of God for my parents and all in that community.

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