After the fire in Louisville and Superior on December 30th, I have seen a common refrain on social media, that material possessions don’t matter.
Is it true that money doesn’t matter? I don’t agree with that. In a time of crisis, money offers financial security, peace of mind that can be vital in these dark times. Perhaps it’s those who have money that most often say that money doesn’t matter, and they take it for granted. I believe that it is the responsibility of those who have more to help those with less. The man who earns less often works just as hard, and is deserving, perhaps more.
In Boulder County, there’s a common sentiment that too much focus is placed on material possessions. There is a kernel of truth to this. Some individuals value things over people, or substitute things for genuine human connection. Even so, putting things over people is only a small part of the story. Material possessions can nourish the soul. That small figurine from your grandmother who has long passed, that favorite coffee mug in the kitchen cabinet that your child decorated for you, your brother’s ashes that sit in an alcove are touchstones to our pasts. The framed family photo on the nightstand, the souvenir from a trip with a loved one can spark powerful memories that keep us connected to the best parts of ourselves. What was lost in the fire were not just ‘things.’
And the worst is the house itself, very often a place where a person dreamed their dreams of a future, a place of refuge not just against the elements, but against the hardships and uncertainties of the workplace and the world. For the fire’s victims, even the security of their home sits burned among the ashes.
I believe in luck. The fire in Louisville and Superior has thrown into stark relief the role of luck in our lives. Driving through Louisville, it is remarkable to see how one row of storefronts survived the fire unscathed, and another row across the parking lot was utterly destroyed. A block of homes where three sit side-by-side, destroyed, and the next two untouched. Of course changes in wind speed, and the location of irrigation ditches and open space may have had a big influence on the direction of the fire, yet it is still partly luck in where your home sits and whether it was burned to ruins or left untouched. CPR has a number of aerial photos that offer a view of neighborhoods affected by the fire.
To add to the uncertainty of the pandemic, we now know that even suburban homes, far away from the mountains, are susceptible to fire. Little by little, a sense of security and permanence has eroded into fears for our physical and emotional safety.
Money, possessions, and luck. They matter. Especially as we look at the devastation that occurred in Boulder County in the last days of 2021. These three things continue to play a role in our lives and always will.
Boulder County fires: Where to find resources and how to help
Photo Attribution:
Photo By Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Boulder County neighborhoods Friday, some homes destroyed by wildfires the previous day, others still in tact.
Photo used with permission from CPR.