Love, Loss & Tragedy
Love, Loss & Tragedy: Finding a Foothill of Hope ❤️?
This week, as we walked the sun-drenched paths of El Cariso Regional Park, it was hard to imagine the wall of flame that once roared through these canyons. But for those of us who have called the foothills home for a long time—from the peaks of Sylmar to the ridges of Altadena and Pasadena—the mountain ranges always carry the weight of the memories of loss.
Whether it is the legacy of the 1966 Loop Fire that gave this park its name, or the more recent scars left by the Station Fire and other blazes that have swept through the San Gabriel Mountains, our community understands a specific kind of "Heart on Fire." We understand that love and tragedy are often neighbors.
There is always the weight of the "Why" in the midst of our grief. When we lose someone we love—whether to a sudden tragedy like a wildfire, the tragic, unexplainable horror of harm or threat, or the quiet, slow transition of illness—that pain can feel as consuming as a brush fire. It leaves a landscape in our souls that feels charred and unrecognizable. We ask "why," and often, the wind is the only thing that answers.
In these moments, it is easy to feel that God has abandoned abandoned us. And many times people will cry out questioning, "God, I don't understand what are you doing!" But the history of our mountains tells a different story. Our God is a good and just God and is never the cause of the fire, the tragedy, the pain or even death. But just as the scorched earth eventually gives way to the "fire poppy" and new growth, the Creator specializes in bringing beauty out of ashes; comfort in the midst of pain and even joy in the wake of loss.
If you are walking through a season of loss right now, please know that you are not walking alone. The House of His Glory stands with you, and more importantly, the Word of God offers a cooling rain for your grief:
Rising from the Ashes The El Cariso Hotshots lost their lives in 1966, but their sacrifice birthed new safety protocols that have saved thousands of lives since. Their loss was not the end of the story; it became a foundation for protection.
Your loss, as painful as it is, does not have the final word. Love is stronger than tragedy. The memories of those we have lost in our lives, and even from the fires in Sylmar, Altadena, and beyond are like the roots of the ancient trees—they go deep, and they hold the soil together even when the fire and the pain has passed.
A Digital Sanctuary for You: If this month’s Touchpoint Topic feels more familiar than you’d like, then we invite you to reach out. Our digital doors are always open:
You don't have to navigate the recovery alone. Let’s watch for the new growth together. ❤️?
~Pastor Deidre Jones
This week, as we walked the sun-drenched paths of El Cariso Regional Park, it was hard to imagine the wall of flame that once roared through these canyons. But for those of us who have called the foothills home for a long time—from the peaks of Sylmar to the ridges of Altadena and Pasadena—the mountain ranges always carry the weight of the memories of loss.
Whether it is the legacy of the 1966 Loop Fire that gave this park its name, or the more recent scars left by the Station Fire and other blazes that have swept through the San Gabriel Mountains, our community understands a specific kind of "Heart on Fire." We understand that love and tragedy are often neighbors.
There is always the weight of the "Why" in the midst of our grief. When we lose someone we love—whether to a sudden tragedy like a wildfire, the tragic, unexplainable horror of harm or threat, or the quiet, slow transition of illness—that pain can feel as consuming as a brush fire. It leaves a landscape in our souls that feels charred and unrecognizable. We ask "why," and often, the wind is the only thing that answers.
In these moments, it is easy to feel that God has abandoned abandoned us. And many times people will cry out questioning, "God, I don't understand what are you doing!" But the history of our mountains tells a different story. Our God is a good and just God and is never the cause of the fire, the tragedy, the pain or even death. But just as the scorched earth eventually gives way to the "fire poppy" and new growth, the Creator specializes in bringing beauty out of ashes; comfort in the midst of pain and even joy in the wake of loss.
If you are walking through a season of loss right now, please know that you are not walking alone. The House of His Glory stands with you, and more importantly, the Word of God offers a cooling rain for your grief:
- Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." He doesn't watch from a distance; He is in the "heart" of that canyon of grief right along with you.
- Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." This is a promise of a divine presence that meets us in our tears and gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Rising from the Ashes The El Cariso Hotshots lost their lives in 1966, but their sacrifice birthed new safety protocols that have saved thousands of lives since. Their loss was not the end of the story; it became a foundation for protection.
Your loss, as painful as it is, does not have the final word. Love is stronger than tragedy. The memories of those we have lost in our lives, and even from the fires in Sylmar, Altadena, and beyond are like the roots of the ancient trees—they go deep, and they hold the soil together even when the fire and the pain has passed.
A Digital Sanctuary for You: If this month’s Touchpoint Topic feels more familiar than you’d like, then we invite you to reach out. Our digital doors are always open:
- Join us this Sunday for our Digital Blessing as we often pray specifically for those carrying the weight of grief. 10:30 am (pst) – https://thehouseofhisglory.com/live
- Tune in any time you’re able by watching the services On-Demand at – https://thehouseofhiglory.com/messages
- Listen to our Audio Prayer for Comfort by clicking the link below.
- Sign up for our Daily Meditation Texts to receive a morning word of peace, truth and encouragement in your inbox. Text the word: "MEDITATION" to 818.873.3370
You don't have to navigate the recovery alone. Let’s watch for the new growth together. ❤️?
~Pastor Deidre Jones
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