IN the Middle of Wildfires-The Right Kind of Spark

In the Middle of Wildfires - The Right Kind of Spark

There have been tremendous losses suffered by so many folks due to the recent wildfires. None more tragic than Eastland Volunteer Fireman, Greg Simmons, who lost his life fighting the fire near Carbon and Gorman.

As family and friends began to speak of Greg, there was a common theme:

“He loved being a volunteer fireman and he died doing what he loved.”

His job didn’t pay a salary, and it was totally sacrificial – it was all about helping other people in danger.

Greg Simmons’ story prompts me to ask myself:

“What am I involved in that offers no salary, is totally sacrificial, and is all about helping others?”

“ And if I died while doing that activity, folks would say, He died doing what they loved.”

It’s so easy to become self-absorbed and “too busy,” to volunteer or help others, but these two questions continue to echo in my head and challenge me to do more for others.

In President Bush’s 1989 Inaugural address, he made his famous “Thousand Points of Light” speech.

“I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good. The old ideas are new again because they are not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in."

It would be ironic and, at the same time, so appropriate, if Gregory Simmons’ sacrifice would spark a thousand points of light across West Texas, and ignite all of us to get as passionately involved with helping others as he was.

I think that’s one wildfire Greg Simmons wouldn’t want to extinguish.