Lessons Forged Through the Flames (Part 1)

Written By: Brad Pedersen

Last week I wrote about what was my most tumultuous event of the summer of '23, with the loss of my Uncle. If you missed it you can get caught up HERE. 

A close second was the disruption caused by the massive wild fires that ran rampant throughout our province of British Columbia, and our resulting evacuation.

It was mid August and the Okanagan was very hot, having baked in the blistering sun for weeks. The forests were tinder dry and a number of fires were ablaze across the region. Outside of some unpleasant smoke, we had not been directly affected, as most of the fires were hundreds of kilometers away. We crossed our fingers and hoped that the soon approaching autumn with cooler temperatures, would quell the fury.

We were out at a local winery celebrating the birthday of one of our family members. There was news earlier in the day that a new fire had sparked up in a valley nearby however it did not appear to pose any immediate threat. We marveled at the plume of smoke billowing in the background but simply carried on with life, assuming that the water bombers would soon have it under control. 

Later that afternoon the wind picked up and started blowing unusually strong. It fanned the flames, the winds transformed the small fire into a raging inferno, directing the blaze towards us. 

That night we did not sleep. We watched with both fascination and dismay, as the wall of flames came streaming down the mountain on the other side of the lake. It sounded like a jet engine, as it consumed everything in its path. We witnessed spires of flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air from the candling of both buildings and trees. 

It was both awful and awesome to watch however it conjured up a sense of helplessness as the gale force winds pushed the inferno onwards. 

Suddenly the winds shifted and to our horror our neighborhood started getting pelted by hot embers. Within minutes we saw a nearby familiar orange glow against the dark backdrop. It was the signal that the fire had achieved the impossible, crossing the lake and sparking up nearby. We started to frantically pack; it was time to leave.

While the fire was burning on the other side of the lake it was certainly awful and tragic but in truth it did not feel like the fire was a problem that directly affected us. It was a problem for them, meaning the people on the other side of the lake but surely with the 4 km watery expanse between us, we were safe. It was true until it was not.

As I have reflected on this, I am struck that this is the same cavalier attitude that I have carried on in many other areas of my life. Whether discussing the war in the Ukraine, the conflicts in the middle east or the polarizing and volatile politics of America. I have often been guilty of numbing out and simply chalking it up as a problem that is elsewhere that does not directly affect me.

The truth is that nothing happens in a vacuum and everything that happens in one way or another affects each of us. As a member of society and as part of the human race we are all connected. We share common needs for survival as well as our human desire to pursue safety, freedom, creativity and happiness.

More importantly we do so while cohabiting this planet; the source for  all life and to whom we have been called to steward her resources. That makes all of us interdependent, both with each other and with every other living creator. We all contribute to the vibrant ecosystem that enables and supports the very essence of life.

However if I am honest I know that deep down I am inherently self-centered in the way I view the world. Per Anaïs Nin: “We do not see the world as it is, we see it as we are.” Meaning not only do we project our worldviews onto those around us but we also look at life mostly from a first person point of view, rarely feeling empathy and more importantly putting that empathy into action.

Do you remember when there was a rumored outbreak of a virus in China? I recall the first reports from January 2020 and thinking it was a "them problem." not an "us problem." 

At the time I recall chalking it up to something similar to SAR's, which only affected a handful of cities in 2003. I never expected it would result in a global pandemic that would affect billions, grinding powerful economies to a halt and subsequently taking the life of my father. Like the fire crossing the lake it was a "their problem" until it became "my problem."

I fully recognize that there are limitations to where we can invest our agency and we need to be selective about where we deploy our resources. I also admit that based on my privilege of being born and raised in Canada that there is a high likelihood that I will never face many of the threats that commonly plague area’s of the developing world.

That said, if I have empathy for a specific plight where I can offer my resources to help, but choose to do nothing, then with my choice I am condoning and indirectly perpetuating the problem with my inaction. 

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: 

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” 

Whatever affects one, will eventually have some affect on me or the generations to follow. Problems we choose to neglect today are never avoided but simply deferred to be resolved as a greater challenge in the future.

We share our common humanity, we are all connected and therefore interdependent. What is happening to others, can and will inevitably have an affect on me depending on what I choose to do. 

As you reflect on the struggles of those around you where you sense empathy and where you have agency to make a difference, consider the following:

Are you numbing out and choosing an apathetic response? 

Why do you think that is, and what would need to be true for you to get involved?

Who today is within your circle of influence that would benefit from your LIFE (Leadership, Influence, Finance, Expertise) resources?

What could you do today to be a force for good in their life?

Brad Pedersen

Vijay Krishnan

Andre Oliveira