Fire Fighters

In July of 2002, a forest fire scorched part of the Pryor mountains, about twenty-five miles southeast of Bridger, Montana. Started by lighting, it burned six-thousand acres of pine trees in a mountainous terrain. For ten days three-hundred forest fire-fighters were stationed in Bridger.

They set up their headquarters on the grade school grounds. About one-hundred small tents scattered out on the school playground, with a multitude of trucks, and a converted school bus they used for their transportation. They also brought a huge generator to provide their own electricity.

When the fire was contained, the fire fighters left town as quickly as they came. The school grounds were back to normal, with no trash or evidence left behind. Not only did the fire fighters fight the fire but they also cleaned up the area where they stayed. They were a blessing to the town of Bridger.

Do we leave “trash” after we have helped somewhere? Do we consider our ministry so important that we forget the common courtesies of cleaning up after ourselves? Maybe negative or critical words are left behind. Let us be a blessing in wherever and whatever circumstance, so that people will remember the good we did, instead of the left behind “trash”.

Helping others is an honor and privilege.

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)