The sun rose red this morning, filtering through dense smoke from wildfires burning across California. My area is safe (so far), but the sky is thicker with smoke today than I have experienced before.
The sky this morning, thick with smoke, turned the sun an eerie color.
Just after sunrise, I ventured out briefly to walk the dog. We walked down to a county park, and as I watched the sun rise, I was struck (again) by all the dry brush surrounding me. This is the stuff of nightmares.
The sun rises over dangerously dry brush.
For too many across California, the nightmare is real. The latest numbers of staggering.
- Major fires across the state: 22
- Acres burned: 170,000
- Homes and businesses destroyed: 3,500 so far
- Lives lost: at least 21, with hundreds more missing (and that’s just the human toll)
There are ways you can help, no matter where you live. I’ll remind you of my favorites:
- UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). The link I’ve provided goes directly to UMCOR’s US Disaster Response Fund, Advance #901670, 100% of which goes to victims of these wildfires and recent hurricanes. You may also want to follow their updates on Facebook.
- The Red Cross (there’s a drop-down menu where you can select where you want your money to go).
Runners helping runners
I’m part of a virtual running community through Oiselle. This morning, Devon Yanko, one of Oiselle’s elite runners in Northern California sent out this message to those of us who live here. She kindly allowed me to share her message with you, too:
Team!
As you know fires are ravaging Northern California and so many people have lost everything. Like you, I feel like I want to do more for the victims of the fires. I know that in the hardest time running has always been an outlet, a way of processing, a way through. I also know that for people who have lost everything, replacing running clothes is not a priority. That is why I am calling for donations of new or used RUNNING clothes that can be taken directly to runners in need. I know that I always have a few more running clothes than I need and thought maybe you guys might too.
If you have running clothes you are willing to donate please mail or drop them off to our friends at San Francisco Running Company: 115 Tunstead Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960. If you are mailing them, please indicate they are c/o Napa/Sonoma runner fire relief.
If you or someone you know is a victim of one of these disasters, please email me so that I can get your sizes and get you some clothing!
All my best,
Devon
Runners—I know you can’t all make it out to San Francisco to drop off donations, but maybe there are a few things you could mail to San Francisco Running Company? That pair of shoes you wore a couple of times but stopped using because they didn’t feel quite right. Those socks your aunt gave you that aren’t the right size. The race shirts you never wear because you have so many others. The impulse buy at the race expo now just taking up space in your dresser.
Please pray, too
As a country, we’ve had a lot too much to pray about of late. But would you please add California into your prayers? Please pray for the winds to die down. Please pray for rain. Please pray for the evacuees. Please pray for those who have lost everything. And please, please pray for the heroes fighting these fires and trying to protect us.
The Flourishing Tree 
Continuously praying for relief from this nightmare that you all are going through.
Thank you, sweet friend.
Dear Hope – I watch the news every evening and see the horrible, horrible pictures. Yesterday, I saw film of a little deer desperately running through a field with a fire burning in the background. Today, I saw an image of a woman who found her wedding ring in the rubble. It broke my heart.
I’m praying for you all: for the victims who have lost almost everything, for the first responders working tirelessly for days and weeks to come, for the residents who smell the air when the wind blows reminding them daily of the tragedy unfolding around them, for those donating what they can, and for all of us watching helplessly many miles away. California, you are in our hearts and in our prayers. Stay Safe my friend.
Thank you for the prayers. The images are terrible, and I find myself battling tears several times a day — either from pictures or words. It is a horrible feeling, that helplessness. That’s why I tried to offer a few ways to help. Some of the victims have absolutely nothing.
Praying for your safety and for the safety of all those in the path of this fire and those who are working tirelessly to save others and their homes. I listened to story after story today on NPR of those who have lost friends and homes. You remain in my prayers.
Thanks, Allison. The stories are heartbreaking. And I can’t even imagine the exhaustion and also the strength of the firefighters to continue battling these monster blazes.
My Grandmother used to say to me:
Red sky at night, sailors delight
Red sky in the morning, sailors warning.
This seemed to be always true in the mountains of Ashe and Watuaga Counties in North Carolina.
Praise the Lord that you and Chris are safe at this time. I am praying for the winds to settle and that you will stay safe!
Love to both,
Barbara Stanley Latta
Barbara — thanks for your prayers! I, too, have always heard that saying (which inspired today’s post title). It seems to be true, even here far away from the sea. At least, today’s held a warning to stay indoors.