THE FLICKERING ASHES

Coolness in the fire

 

 

FLICKERING ASHES

 

Psalm 112:4-7

4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

 

It was around 11 pm when I was awaken by a sudden change of temperature while I was sleeping on my bed. Then I noticed a radiance dancing on the window. Suddenly, I heard people screaming outside the house. I immediately rose up, and right away took my bag and my net book.  Everyone in the house was asleep. I was the only one awake at that moment. So, I quickly went out from my room and strongly knocked the next door, then shouted, “Fire! Fire! Wake up! There’s fire!” My niece reluctantly went out from her room, and when she heard the screaming mob outside the house, we rashly went down through the stairs, I told my niece not to bring anything; we closed the door and we left the house with hope in our hearts that we could still see everything as it is when we come back after the commotion.

We saw people running in fear, and we heard people crying and screaming for their things, and loved ones that might be left in the house. When I looked at my phlegmatic niece, she was about to cry too. But I told her, “Don’t cry, just walk fast and don’t look back. Everything will be okay.” Then, the music began to play in my heart. My mouth began to follow the rhythm. “My house is in Your hand, my house is in Your keeping, I’m never without hope, not when my future is with You.” I repeatedly sing the same chorus while walking away from the fiery place. When my niece heard me singing, I felt her troubled spirit calmed down. 

We stayed at least 100 meters away from our place. We heard the fire trucks hurriedly come to rescue the perishing dwellings. While waiting, we sat down under the shadow of the city condominium. People were still coming in and out. We waited and waited, hoping for someone to come with some good news, like everything is already fine. But no one came, but another song was played in my heart, “God never moves, without purpose or plan, when trying His servants and molding a man. Give thanks to the Lord, though your testing seems long, in darkness He giveth a song. O, rejoice in the Lord. He makes no mistakes. He knoweth the end of each path that I take. For when I am tried, and purified, I shall come forth as gold.” So, I reckoned   that night that everything will be okay as how the Lord had spoken to me through the songs. Few minutes later, my cousin came and told me, “Dol, it’s all gone, nothing is left.” In my mind, my initial reaction was, “Lord, I thought our house is in Your hand, that’s what I've heard from You .” Then, I remembered the second song given to me “God never moves without purpose or plan…He makes no mistakes.” So, I said to God, “Lord, I don’t understand what is happening right now, but I just want to put my trust in You.” We went back to our place. O yes, my cousin was telling me the truth, we didn’t see anymore the house we’ve built for more than ten years of sacrifices. All we saw was the flickering ashes which decorated and covered the sky. Many were still crying, but the amazing thing was, I didn’t feel the same misery in my heart. If there was something that bothered in my mind at that time was the question, “Where could I possibly urinate?”