Written by Julie MacNeil of the Village Church
The little town of Altadena, California sits on a hill at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. The majestic peaks rise high above and are Altadena’s crowning glory. Once there was nothing but poppy fields, but now neighborhoods populate the hill town. Some parts are like forests, where the stately deodar firs line many streets. It is a town where families have lived for generations, and neighbors know neighbors. Altadena was my hometown. Our family owned the house on Athens for 67 years, selling it, after my mother passed away, to a family much like the one who bought it in 1947, a young couple with a little girl, and a boy on the way. My brother and I handed them the keys with tears in our eyes. Then last January 7th, vicious winds swept up from Eaton Canyon with diabolical force, bending trees nearly parallel to the ground. Sparks turned into flames, merciless until they had destroyed everything in their path and there was nothing left to burn, leaving much of Altadena as desolate as a battlefield, the epitome of scorched earth. It was then that Jesus made his way through the rubble and poured out his love. He poured it out in tears of the residents, in hugs and in kindness. There were no strangers in Altadena that week. Neighbors shared what they had. Families took in families. Restaurants gave away food. Folks who had never heard of the little town at the top of the hill became friends of the people in Altadena who had lost everything they owned. And the people learned that they hadn’t really lost everything at all. They still had the love of Jesus. My brother’s family and mine still love that house on Athens, and feel that it remains part of us. All the memories are still there, the Christmas parties, the fun with cousins of three generations, wedding and baby showers. My brother over the years remodeled the kitchen, 2 bathrooms, built cabinets in the family room and kept up repairs for our mother, when she lived there alone. So we feel a great connection to the young couple who must start over and create new memories out of the rubble. Curiously, the little grey wooden mailbox that my brother made, with white trim and shingles, just like the house, was left unscathed by the flames. It even had mail in it! To me it is a sign that their home will be restored. Next week we will go to Altadena to reconnect with this family and share the love of Jesus with them.
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. [Psalm 34:18]
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