March/April Newsletter

From Pastor Amy’s Desk

“Lights of Home” – Pastors Playlist for Lent

In broad daylight the lights were blinding from the firetrucks and police cars. The air was so thick with smoke that I could barely see two feet in front of me. The lights were blinding, and the world felt chaotic and destroyed on Tuesday, March 11th as I walked the streets of South Missionary Ridge Road. The day the brush fires on South Missionary Ridge were engulfed by fierce winds and destroyed over 4 miles of land in a matter of minutes.

I was walking frantically to find church members amid the smoke and fires. I was on a street that I had driven on numerous times to their house. Yet this day, my car could not get near their house because of all the emergency vehicles. I parked my car on the side of the road as ashes were covering my windshield and I could no longer see. I parked thinking I was close to their house but realized immediately that I was disoriented. In these moments I had no idea where their house was, only that I was on the right street. How could I be so confused in such a familiar place?

I started walking straight ahead. Soon I was surrounded by multiple people who were also searching for loved ones. Some were neighbors, some family, but all of us were searching and blinded by the lights of first responders’ vehicles. Suddenly I felt my lungs struggling to breathe and stay in rhythm. The smoke was so thick I felt like choking. The lights were all around me and yet I could not see. I felt panicked for a moment wondering if I would ever find The Buff’s house, (church members Stacy Nelms & Brad Buff’s parents).

An earlier phone call from Jana, Brad’s wife, I had learned that Brad’s parents’ house was on fire. I could hear the sheer terror in her voice as she was watching 20-foot flames engulf their house and was dangerously close to their 500 lb. propane gas tank. Her fear translated loud and clear.

My heart was pounding as I walked the streets, my heart races even now as I type these words. Blinded by lights, straining to see, trying not to breathe in the smoke I felt more and more panic, then words from a song, rushed through my head. Working on my Lent playlist, I had been listening to a wide array of songs earlier that day. One song in particular got my attention that day. “Lights to Home” by U2. Yes, I love the music of U2, but surprisingly had never heard this song before.

I was walking with lights in front of me, I could not see, but this song washed over me as a prayer.

“Hey now, do you know my name?

Hey now, where I'm going

If I can't get an answer

In your eyes I see it

The lights of home

The lights of home”

I kept hearing this chorus. I kept praying, I kept walking, until I could see the lights. In the next moment, I see two people running towards me. They look to be young, but I could not see clearly yet. They keep running towards me, I thought that they were running to me, but I would later learn that they were running to their grandfather’s truck, which I had just passed unbeknownst to me. They kept running, I kept looking, then realized it was Allie & Brody! (Two of our youth that are the grandchildren to the Buff’s)

I opened my arms wide, they both fell into my arms and gave me the warmest embrace, which felt like home. When I opened my eyes, I could see “the lights of home”. Their grandparent’s house was just right in front of us. I had been looking so hard that I could not see it, but God opened my eyes to see the lights of home!

To give a quick close to this longer story, by the grace of God, powerful prayers from many, Brad’s quick response to soak down the propane tank and back of the house, The Buff’s house saved. Sadly, three houses down, their neighbors house was destroyed by the fire, but were all ok, including their beloved dog!

Beloved when the Holy Spirit gave me the nudge to make a playlist for the season of Lent, God knew I would need those songs to save my life! Bono, front man of the band U2 says, “Good music can change your day, a good song can save your life”.

Amen!

I will be putting together a link for a Spotify Playlist to share, soon.

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