What is the meaning of natural disasters like the California fires?

Many people are trying to see past the disasters such as Katrina, or the fires that have plagued California this week.

Let's be clear what these things mean - each individual brings meaning to the events of their life. We speak about finding meaning in it, but really we are finding the meaning in US. Events occur, but our experience is born of our interpretations, our judgments, and so experiences vary, and each one decides what their experience is going to mean to them.

Each person must claim responsibility for what is in their life; but that is not the same as taking blame. Response-ability is the way to look at it - the ability to respond to whatever is going on.

In the news, I can already see different people taking responsibility in various ways. Whether they gather together their family and move on; whether they begin to rebuild, or whether they step into a funk for the next ten years, each person and each family will make a series of serious choices.

Response-ability is made up of choices. Some people will see no choices in front of them. Others faced with the same trauma will choose to overcome it and work at reclaiming their lives.

Many people have joined together to work at making things easier for those who are waiting in shelters for news of their homes. Some will not get good news.

This is not easy. It is very hard, and it is also a pivotal test of what each person is made of. There are a lot of cliches available which fit the situation:
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
"Tough times call for tough decisions."
"Tough times don't last, but tough people do."

At a time of grievous loss, people deserve more than these platitudes. People deserve our prayers and the full depth of our understanding. At this time, let's lend our hearts to the Californians who have lost so much this week.