That unsettled feeling! “I am not sure where I belong any longer.” “We are living in our motorhome parked in front of our house while it is being cleaned and deemed safe to occupy.” “We lost our house in the wildfire so we are temporarily living in an apartment until we receive more direction as to our future.” These are only a few of the comments being voiced at this time of returning to Wood Buffalo Municipality which includes Fort McMurray and Anzac. Scattered throughout our city, I see motorhomes set up in parking lots and tucked away off the beaten paths. These recreational vehicles temporarily house some persons who have moved into Fort McMurray to address the issues of cleansing facilities and taking care of insurance issues. Other short-term housing arrangements provide shelter for residents of our city who are unable to enter their homes or have lost their homes. For many it is a very unsettling time! A young mother stopped by the church recently. Having lost all personal belongings, including those precious mementos of family achievements and meaningful gifts, she was attempting to cope, while at the same time giving hope to her children.
A few days ago, while walking to work from our downtown condominium, I was thinking of what needed to be accomplished as we moved ahead. Suddenly the sweetest of fragrances awakened my senses. I stopped strolling. Beside the sidewalk grew a large rose bush that was in full bloom. The deep pinkish blossoms were perfuming the morning in such a beautiful way.
Consider the Scriptures: “But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” 2 Corinthians 2:14, 15 NLT. Keep walking, God shall settle our feelings in the embrace of His loving care. He continues to lead us along!