It's the first day of spring on our burnt mountain. Drive into certain areas, and you will still see devastation everywhere-- entire neighborhoods of burnt chimneys standing above ashen lots on the path the Old Fire raged through five months ago. You will also see the beginnings of spring--a clump of daffodils growing in a garden next to a charred wall, an orchard of blossoming apple trees the fire missed, and homeowners sifting through their charred belongings, using gloved hands to lift out one item at a time.

You will also notice new signs in front of various lots, giving the address, name, and phone number of the owner. You'll spy piles of metal debris neatly placed along the road. And on a Saturday you'll see a hundred volunteers clearing parcels by hand, with tractors, and with huge trucks and cranes.

Dan Patrascu, his wife Vicky, and their twelve-year-old daughter Christine were working to clean the burnt yard around their wooden which was spared by the fire in a neighborhood that wasn't. The house next door was also spared, as was a log cabin down the road.

Their utilities are all working now, and the part-time residents were thrilled to be back on the mountain.

"I think it's great that people are volunteering to clean up," Patrascu said. "Otherwise it would be so expensive to do it yourself. Things have improved so much in the least 2 weeks."

The Patrascu's garlic plantation survived, a plot with green sprouts coming up amongst the ash.

"The firefighters couldn't get here because a giant ball of fire swept through," Patrascu explained. "It was unbelievable. It's just a miracle that the fire missed our house."

"The fire burnt up our cord of wood and part of our wooden deck," Vicky Patrascu added. "We still don't understand why the fire went around our house."

One reason was that, before the fire, the family had cleaned up their yard of all the dead pine needles, and they had several dead pine trees cut down. Interesting enough, the house to their left had not cleaned their yard, and their house was completely burned. Also, the Patrascu's roof was flame-resistant composition shingles and not the wood shake type.

But other mountain houses had their yards cleared, trees cut, and the right kind of roof, and they were not spared . . .

Whatever the reason, daughter Christine was happy that even the family shed was spared, which holds her bike and sled.

Next to their house a subcontractor for the county was using a Bobcat tractor to pile big logs that a huge truck could load on with a crane and then haul to the dump. The driver stopped to chat and explain that, though they had removed many of the dead and burned trees, there was still much to do.

Other signs stated that "This neighborhood has been targeted to receive debris removal from the county."

Norm Pearson from Mira Loma, California was sitting on the back of a pickup truck full of water bottles donated to the volunteers. He was wearing a yellow t-shirt that matched the magnetic signs on the truck which announced "Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief."

"I am associated with the Southern Baptists and have been hired by a company that is working through FEMA. I am directing the volunteers that are coming here to pick up the debris from the burnt houses. We're planning to be here for a few weeks, until the job is done. Before this, we were cleaning up at the bottom of the mountain. Today the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints sent up a group of volunteers to work clearing the lots. The Baptists will be coming up next Saturday, and during the week a group from Set Free Ministries is working to separate the metals, cement blocks, and ash. We also train them to operate the equipment. The one-day volunteers usually work with their hands and shovels. The homeowners have to qualify for free cleanup, and they sign a waiver so that the volunteers can work on their property."

As he spoke, three Mountain Disposal trucks came by to haul more loads to the local dump.

"We mostly see men, but sometimes you'll see some women and teenagers. There's a lot of labor involved. You have to be a mountain goat to get to some of these houses since the stairs are all burned up. Saturdays is when the big church groups are coming up. Too bad it took so long to get here, but we're here now. The volunteers feel good helping people out. I'm glad to be here. We've met some really terrific people in the neighborhood, who are spending time on their property."

Teresa Halbert is coordinating the cleanup effort through the County Volunteer Services. She emphasized that those who qualify for the free lot cleanup must meet strict guidelines such as having no or little insurance, low income, disabilities, etc. The county then issues demolition permits for each qualified property, giving a "right of entry form" for the church volunteers.

Local companies such as Wal-Mart and Ace Hardware are volunteering the use of equipment, Port-a-Potties, and tools.

"We're here to help those who really need help, such as Senior Citizens. I sort through the files to make sure the homeowners qualify. This can cause conflict, as some people complain that they didn't get enough insurance money to rebuild the same house as before. It's heartbreaking to see homeowners still standing on their devastated property 5 months later., and they have as much a pile of rubble as their neighbors. But I tell them that some people received no money aid at all."

"We can't find the owners of some properties, and these will be 'lien-filed' so that the owner is responsible, or the county has to take on the property as abandoned," Teresa explained. "My oldest client for free clearing is 91 years old."

Community Presbyterian Church, located near Fire Station #One, has a long history in our mountain community. The congregation began in the 1930s, and the church was built in 1950. It is closely connected to historic Wylie Woods Conference Center. Part of Wylie Woods burned in the Old Fire, and a charred cross was made out of timbers that were not entirely consumed.

"We had a community service in December," Reverend Bill Stanley explained during our interview in the front pew of the church sanctuary. Above us afternoon sunlight shone through a colorful stained glass window shaped like a cross.

"The charred cross was especially made for that service, as a reminder that out of chaos comes hope. When Wylie Woods rebuilds, we will move the cross there and have a dedication."

The Presbyterian Church is helping raise funds to rebuild the rustic lodge that held much of the mountain's history in antiques, old photos, books, and handmade quilts.

Donna Ward, who has been the Conference Center Director for 17 years, added, "It was so strange to watch the television news from my evacuation location and see the roof of Wylie Woods burning. The main lodge, my office, the kitchen, dining room, and some attached buildings were completely lost, but the 1927 log cabin, the Mountain House, and most of the 45 acres of forest were saved. We're still booking groups who want to come up and enjoy the serenity of the mountains. The grass and daffodils are blooming, and the trees have new leaves."

The Presbyterian Church played a big part in the Old Fire recovery effort, opening their doors to "Mountain Friends & Neighbors," a volunteer group that helped with basic necessities like clothing, toiletries, food, and financial aid.

"I think that the community has responded well to the needs after the fire," Rev. Stanley observed (several people in his congregation lost their homes). "We need to be aware that there is still a lot of recovery left to do. 'Mountain Hearts & Lives' is a great ministry that is helping with the long-term recovery. Rim Family Services and their 'Project Wildfire' is offering counseling and emotional support--as an agent of healing for those experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress."

This kind of stress probably effects all of us, even if we did not lose our home or office.

Jesus once quoted this verse from the prophet Isaiah,

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me . . . to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

To help provide comfort, the Presbyterian church brought in Warren Dale, a Methodist minister and specialist in Post-Traumatic Stress. Dale had worked with people in Bosnia who were dealing with the effects of war. While on the mountain, he used his experience to train volunteers from various mountain churches and counselors from Rim Family Services. Dale is planning to come back to the mountain to conduct more classes, and the Presbyterian church is hoping to offer a Fire Survivor's Support Group in their Fireside Room on Thursday nights.

On Sunday, April 11, churches all over our mountains celebrated Easter. Some groups awoke before dawn to welcome in the sunrise. Some services were indoors--n sanctuaries decorated with banners, lilies, and stained glass. Others were outdoors--by a lake, grass, or trees. Calvary Chapel held its Easter Service on a grassy hilltop, with the panorama of the mountains as a backdrop.

The snowy mountain peaks glistened in the morning sunlight as members of the Worship Band set up on a temporary wooden stage. The wind was gusting, and sheet music was held by clothespins to music stands. The temporary outdoor sound system was challenging, but the band did a great job, singing "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" while people took their seats on folding chairs that were set up along the lawn, playground, and sidewalks. Teens Erin Hall, Josh Arnold, and Brandon McCullough presented the special music, a song called "This is Love." Over 600 cheerfully dressed people gathered to celebrate. One song particularly reflected the mood:

"We've been through fire, we've been through rain,
we've been refined by the power of His name,
we've fallen deeper in love with You,
You've burned the truth on our lips:

Shout to the north and the south,
sing to the east and the west,
Jesus is Savior to all,
Lord of heaven and earth."

If the wind had been blowing in the right direction, people at the lake and village would have heard the words.

Pastor Tom Balli then took the stage to share the Easter message.

"Some people say that Christianity doesn't cost anything. It cost Jesus' life. He rose again and asked us to take up our own cross and follow Him," Balli began. "To be a Christian, you must believe that Jesus is God, that He died on the cross for you, rose again for you, and He wants to have a personal relationship with you--not just an intellectual one. There will come a day when people will stand before Christ and say, 'Lord, Lord, did we not do good works in Your name?' And Jesus will reply, 'Depart from Me, for I never knew you.'"

A gust of wind swooped up Pastor Balli's notes, and the white sheets of paper flew over the audience like birds.

"There goes my sermon outline. Now I'll have to wing it," Balli remarked as the congregation laughed.

Balli then shared about his father, who had religion all his life but did not personally know God until he suffered a broken neck and lay dying.

"I shared with my father how Jesus, the Messiah, fulfilled over 300 specific Old Testament prophecies, including that He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, how he was crucified, that He would lie in a rich man's tomb, and that He would rise again," Pastor Balli exclaimed, giving the congregation various Scriptures references and concluding with 1 Corinthians 15:

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead . . . For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive."

At the end of the service, a flock of doves was released. The white birds circled the hilltop as people gasped and pointed.

But perhaps the best expression of the day was told by a sticker on the big drum of the band's talented drummer, Rim High School senior Tyler Smith. It read "Worship Generation." From all the teens and children present at the Calvary Chapel mountaintop Easter Service, one could believe that--despite all the negative things that the media reports about the new generations--many of them are dedicated to serving God and their communities. For more information, visit Calvary's website.

As we get our first real winter storm since the wildfires, our mountain is covered with snow. Clean white crystals blanket the ashes, burned-out cars, charred chimneys, and dead trees. Perhaps the snow also begins to cover our sorrows, losses, and stress from the evacuation.

Snow reminds me of chemistry. Back in 1867 a Russian scientist discovered that the elements in our world --the basic building blocks that we can mix but not create--have a certain pattern, and he charted The Periodic Table of Elements. Until modern times, there were only 13 known elements. Now there are places for 107 of them on the chart, from gasses such as nitrogen, to liquids such as iodine, to solids such as silver. There are even a few empty spots for elements yet to be discovered.

Did you know that the element of gold is painted outside the cockpits of military airplanes to protect the crew from radioactive elements like plutonium? And lead, even heavier than gold, is used to keep hospital workers safe from X-rays.

Water is a combination of two elements and exists on our planet in the form of gas, liquid, and solid. We can find all 3 on this mountain--sometimes at the same time as fog covers the Rim, rain falls, and snow lies on the ground. Water is made from one atom of hydrogen and 2 atoms of oxygen. Water exists in clusters of 6--like the six-sided snowflake or ice crystal. No two have the exact same pattern.

Although snow is cold and can be deadly, it also brings rebirth. The forest gets much-needed moisture, the creeks and rivers flow down to the valleys, and we are invigorated by the freshness against our faces. But snow can make our cars or feet slip, it's difficult to shovel, and too much may bring destructive mudslides. Yet there's something clean and alluring about a field of freshly fallen snow.

Go to a local hardware store, buy those chains that slip over your snow boots, and take a walk in the snow. Like a Subaru on a mountain road, your feet will stay on the path you choose. There is something wonderful about walking in the snow, when your footprints sink down a foot or two and you feel the effort of each new step.

Snow comes before spring, a time of celebrating God's love and forgiveness. "The Passion of the Christ" is a film due to appear this week. Though it has ignited controversy and earned the rating R, it has in an amazing way brought together Catholics, Protestants, and Jews. The actress who plays Mary is Jewish. The producer and director, Mel Gibson, is Catholic. And many protestants have praised the film.

If we accept the idea that God's own Son became a man and lived among us, that He healed us with His touch and with His words, and that He lay down His life willingly as a sacrifice for our sins--then we cannot blame others for taking His life. It was not just the Jews or the Romans who yelled "Crucify Him!" Our voices were raised, too.

"Surely He has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed Him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
the chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)

In the film, soldiers bound Jesus and flogged him with whips so that his back was slashed and red. Mel Gibson's own hands were used to drive in the nails. But the story didn't end with the long and painful death. On the first day of the week Jesus rose in resurrection power, offering life to all.

"'For as the rain comes down,
and the snow from heaven,
and do not return there,
but water the earth . . .
so shall My word be that goes forth
from My mouth;
it shall not return to Me void,
but it shall accomplish what I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing
for which I sent it.

For you shall go out with joy,
and be led out with peace;
the mountains and the hills
shall break forth into singing before you,
and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands.'" (Isaiah 55:8-12)

This year, as winter turns toward spring, let us celebrate the heritage we share. Though we may appear as different as fog, water, or snow--as Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant--yet in essence we are the same. Let us rejoice in God's grace like the snow. Maybe we will hear the mountain singing and the trees clapping their hands.