I woke up yesterday to learn that 19 men died while in the line of duty, only this time the men that died were not fighting terrorists, they were firefighters fighting an out-of-control wildfire.
As a new day begins, the rest of us will be going through our routines of getting ready for work, getting the kids off to daycare or daycamp, or making plans for the 4th of July. But for the families, children and loved ones of those that died, their routines (and lives) have been changed in the worst way. I can't imagine what it must have been like for them to receive the news. I can say that when my husband left for the military, I was very depressed for a few days, but I knew that he would be coming back. But the 19 firefighters that died will never be coming back, never be going home — not to their families, not to their loved ones, not to their children.
There will be some out there who will only shrug and say, “These men knew the risks of their job when they signed on,” but that doesn't make this tragedy any different from the many others that happen.
So, while the loved ones are going to be mourning the loss of these firefighters, who lost their lives trying to save the lives of many others (some not even knowing who they are) and try to be strong and move on with their lives, what are the rest of us going to do? I don't know about you, but I'm going to take some time out of my busy day to light a candle, meditate and ask the gods, goddesses and deities to grant these people the peace and strength to move on and be strong for those (especially the children) that need the extra comfort and support.
Blessed Be to the families, children, and loved ones of the 19 firefighters who died and Blessed Be to you…
