fire ephemeral.
My friend Lindsay and I were talking today.
And I don’t know why, but the topic of my life came up.
I know, we must have really been scraping the bottom of the barrel with that one. Having already exhausted topics such as the ladies’ sewing circle board meeting Wednesday last, as well as the latest antics of certain people we only bring up to each other in order to pray for them more effectively, you know, we almost just ran out of things to say. But luckily, we pretended that there is something of note to discuss when it comes to the recent events of my life, and so our little conversation was able to continue.
And we were sitting and eating and talking, which are three of my favorite things to do. Especially when it involves nutella; especially when it involves wonderful people such as Lindsay. And that was not necessarily written in order of importance.
Both are fantastic.
But Lindsay mentioned something that I had never heard before. Something about certain flowers that bloom only after the worst devastation, a consuming fire that leaves nothing in its wake.
And it’s like I was Lucy and there was the professor, telling my siblings about Narnia and how I wasn’t crazy after all. Because look, those are some beautiful flowers that are blooming. Maybe even now. And it’s okay to notice some bits of beauty and color mixed among the ashes of what was burnt up and left for dead.
And Lindsay, she even sent me a link about these encouraging flowers, and when I went there I read this:
When flames race across the mountains consuming everything in their path and leaving a smoking blackened landscape of devastation behind, it is hard to imagine that robust regrowth that is waiting in the wings. Two weeks almost to the day comes the Fire Lily, which blooms scarlet and beautiful…
I know I say this a lot, but whoa.
I mean, …it is hard to imagine that robust regrowth that is waiting in the wings…
YOU THINK?
Yes. It was almost impossible to imagine anything close to that when I was laying in my bed, letting people tell me things that I couldn’t believe because there was only one tape that was being replayed in my mind over and over again and that sounded a lot like Dorothy when she kept saying, There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…Because all I wanted was to go back to how the mountain was. Because I loved that mountain, I really did. At least, I loved the mirage. It was all I knew and it was all I wanted and no matter how beautiful the fire lilies were going to be, I didn’t want them.
I wanted to go home.
But then, somehow, it happens. Just like they say–Two weeks almost to the day comes the Fire Lily, which blooms scarlet and beautiful…
And yesterday, it was four months to the day that the fire burnt my house down. And I do believe that I see some fire lilies. And I also look forward to the fire ephemerals. Because, see–
During the three years following a burn, “fire ephemerals,” flora which flower after fire or disturbance, sheet the mountain slopes with carpets of color…
Carpets of color.
Now, that sound good.
Like a miracle, even.
You know what else sounds really good?
Maybe even the best thing anyone’s ever written about me to date.
This.
And in case you have a hard time deciphering it, it reads:
Jessica is my aunt. She goes on world tours with A Chorus Line. I love everything about her.
I found it when I opened my phone earlier tonight. It’s something my sweet nephew Ollie wrote about me that Darby made sure I read. She’s like that. Always spreading news around that bolsters the heart to believe in beauty just a little bit more before nightfall.
Remember when I talked about how many people other than the one who should have yelled to me, You stay alive! stepped in and yelled it anyway?
Well, here is just more evidence of that.
What a beautiful reason to stay alive.
in I Lift My Eyes Up, Loved Ones, Thoughts and Feelings
as beautiful flowers, consuming fire, day, Dorothy, fire, friend lindsay, home, Jessica, Lily, Lindsay, Lucy, Ollie, sewing circle, something, waiting in the wings
I love this. And if you’re starting to see Fire Lilies the Fire Ephemerals can’tbe far behind. Blessings on your head, Jess.
thank you–I even love just saying those titles: fire lilies and fire ephemerals. so beautiful.
Jess..how beautiful! that is so amazing about those flowers. i have never heard that before. i know that you will continue to be just like those flowers..rising from the fire..full of beauty and color. im so happy you had a good time with Lindsay and you are so right about Darby..hope your day is filled with beautiful things..
I know, Sarah! I had never heard anything about them before either, which is why I was so grateful that Lindsay brought them up. What an amazing demonstration of what God does–even, or maybe especially after the devastation.
Beauty from ashes. A promise from the One that can do that.
totes, mom.
its just amazing all the examples of redemption found in the most unlikely of places, and how complete devastation unearths something that could never have been there otherwise. beautiful post, Jess.
I like the sentence “that could never have been there otherwise” makes you hesitate to even say things like “I wish that had never happened,” though of course, some of the things that are so horrible, I do wish had never happened–but then, what about the beauty that God brings about afterwards?
Perhaps any future would-be suitors should have an intensive lesson or two from Ollie on how they need to treat you! I love the pure innocence about that note – he wrote it for a school assignment never knowing you or any of us would even see it, there’s not an ounce of manipulative in it. He wrote it because that’s how he feels about you. That’s pretty special.
The heat from the flames needs to get hot enough to burst open certain seed pods for some classes of trees, too. It’s strange how God uses such tragedy to accomplish things that couldn’t happen any other way. But pretty beautiful, considering that people have the incredible, scary ability to create tragedy for others.
And you know recently as Joe and I were trying to figure out a name for a new company, we wanted it to be a name associated with the kind of growth that can only happen after a devastating fire. I searched and searched for a term, for any phrase that refers to this – and found nothing. And now you provide Fire Empemeral, which sounds awesome… but it’s too late. Thanks a lot. (I like the name we choose, too.)
Yeah, Fire Ephemeral is really cool. Maybe I will write a song with that title. And what name DID you guys choose, if you I may ask? Or are you waiting for a big reveal?
It’s a software company so we went with Apparition Apps, which is fun and kind of spooky.
Oh, I like it! And would you guys be able to make more emojis for the iphone? I’d totally buy them!!
Yeah, pretty special is totally right. And what with Ollie’s midnight “kitheth,” the way he defends me against those who would put arrows in my heart, and now this, I’d say anybody who wants a shot at my heart should definitely start taking notes…
Ollie’s note is so precious! Just so you know…you have another adoring fan. Ezra’s absolute favorite song is “He loves us,” (you can check out his version on my fb page) and he informed me a few weeks ago that he “loves the girl who sings ‘He loves us’” at church because “she is boo-ti-ful.”
Also, Fire Lily would be an awesome name for a band;)
Jessica, it looks like you have the under-10 crowd under your thumb!
and Jase–looks like I finally reached my target age!!
You’re right about Fire Lily! But Shane and I have finally come up with something that we both like AND hasn’t been used…Also, that is so sweet about Ezra! What a cutie:)
Beautiful stuff!
I love this post! I read it early this morning on my phone and couldn’t comment, but it has stayed with me all day. So encouraging and such a reminder of God’s unbridled determination for life to win over death.
yes, you’re right. and it’s that determination that has kept me alive. and even feeling well…
When I was hiking in Solstice Canyon with Jase and Darbs last month, I was amazed by the trees that were completely black from the wildfires that burned every so often but were still growing and life was brightly displayed by the beautiful green leaves they were sprouting. It was almost like a new creation – these big black trees that grew green leaves. It was beautiful and spoke of the trials the trees have been through but the strength of heart they have displayed. I was proud of those trees like I’m proud of you.
well, I am proud of you too.
and how cool about those burnt trees sprouting new life…definitely a metaphor I can relate to.
Jessica, I see fire lilies blooming in your life now, and I know that the fire ephemerals are just around the corner. And the fire ephemerals are exquisite, extraordinary flowers that few every get to behold; your life will be full of that extraordinary beauty and regrowth. And Ollie’s note?! Come on! “I love everything about her.” So perfect.
And Jase: the blurb about fire ephemerals was one of the first hits when I googled: “flowers that bloom after fire.” It’s not in the titles of the results, but it’s in this blurb about this nature reserve in South Africa called Fernkloof where this phenomenon has been documented.
thanks so much, Lindsay–and seriously, when you brought the whole phenomenon up to me, I was like, Okay. I need to find out more about these flowers cause I am pretty sure I am supposed to know about them…So thank you. And I know–what Ollie wrote–unbeatable…:-)
Isn’t it cool how God has set things up so that in nature we see reflections of our lives? So encouraging.