The Hawk Fire near Reno, Nevada, has had a significant impact on the community, destroying more than 30 homes and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate or prepare to evacuate. As of August 24, firefighters had contained 27% of the fire, with no new growth reported. Evacuation orders and warnings had been reduced to about 63,000 residents, down from more than 90,000 over the weekend. While conditions had improved, officials remained concerned about winds pushing the fire toward nearby neighborhoods.
For one member of the community, the fire became especially personal when members of her own family were among those forced to evacuate.
Watching the Hawk Fire impact our community and force members of my own family to evacuate their homes has really put so much into perspective for me.
Thankfully, they were able to get to safety. But even when you are safe, your mind can still be back at home.
Will our house still be there?
What will we come back to?
What if everything we’ve worked for is gone?
I can only imagine how heavy those unknowns must feel.
It has made me think deeply about what really matters in this life.
We spend years building homes, collecting things, creating comfort, and holding onto possessions that carry memories and meaning. There is nothing wrong with valuing those things. But situations like this remind us how quickly life can change and how little control we actually have over the things we sometimes work so hard to protect.
A home can be rebuilt, and things can be replaced. But life, family, faith, love, and our relationship with God are treasures that cannot be measured by what we own.
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21
Thank you, God, for reminding me that my greatest treasure isn’t what I can put inside a house. My greatest treasure is knowing Jesus, loving my family, serving others, and living a life that has eternal significance.
To every family, and especially my family, facing evacuation, uncertainty, fear, or loss because of this fire: you are in my prayers.
We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow.
And when so much around us feels uncertain, there is still one thing we can hold onto: our hope is in Jesus.
Please continue to pray for our community. So many of the smiling faces we know and love have been impacted by this fire.