Rabbi 360

I know many of us are reeling from the footage out of Los Angeles, as wildfires continue to spread, claiming lives, destroying property, and altering communities. It is heart-wrenching to see the pictures and hear the stories on the news and social media.

When I spend time in nature, I am generally struck by two emotions. On the one hand, I feel awe–the beauty and variety of the world is overwhelming, and the stark natural beauty of our environment is astounding. When I look upon the Olympic Mountains, or Mount Rainier, for example, I am often awestruck at the grandeur of Creation.

At the same time, I also feel humility. Those same mountains have the ability to make us feel small, and remind us of the scale of humanity in regards to nature. And all the moreso during these days, when we are reminded that nature can be a destructive force and has the power to bring about real harm on human communities.

In the story of Creation in the Torah, we are told that God creates the world successively growing more detailed each day. God begins with light and dark, day and night, then moves on to sky and ground, land and ocean. Then those are populated with plants and animals, birds and fish, and finally humans.

On the one hand, one can read this as showing that humanity is the summation of Creation, that we stand above, what makes it complete. On the other hand, a better read is that it reminds us that we are but one part of a greater whole. We are not above nature, we are of nature.

Which is why we are told to “till and tend” the earth–we may use its resources, but we need to do so in a sustainable way. We are not separate from, but interdependent with, the resources that surround us. Another way to think about it is that a “natural disaster” is only a disaster from our perspective. The world will continue to do what it does because of, or despite, our interference or presence.

There are those who would politicize these fires and place blame on one group or another, one policy or another. That is not the right response, as it continues to think that we ultimately have some control over the situation. It is difficult to look at any one cause when it is more about an approach, an attitude. A better response will be to see how we can live in better relationship with the natural world.

And that time will perhaps come. But right now, these fires remind us of the two main obligations that we hold as human beings: protect each other, and protect the earth. So let us grieve with all those who have lost–lost lives, lost their homes, lost their important possessions and places. Let us reach out to those whose physical and spiritual foundations have crumbled. Let us hold in our hearts and prayers those whose futures are uncertain and struggle to find hope. Let us extend support to meet immediate needs and future rebuilding.

We pray that these fires are extinguished soon, and that all who are in harms way be safe. May the land and all who dwell on it find rest. And may all who are struggling find peace.