MUDDY JUKEBOX - September 2020
Wildfires
Supported by the song ‘Flickers in the Flames’ By Dave Thomas Junior
In 2020, over 8000km² of land has been burnt in California through wildfires. Some have started naturally such as through lightning strikes. Some have been started by humans; both unintentionally and intentionally. 8000km² is just over a third of the total area of Wales and that area has been burnt in only eight and a half months.
Fossils suggest wildfires have been igniting for 420 million years. This planet is intensely flammable. Wildfires spark. And catch. And grow. Nearly impossible to control. So the question is, at what point do we stop trying to fight the fire that’s spreading…and simply surrender to it?
You’re never going to see it coming. I didn’t. One minute everything is calm…the next, you’re staring down a wildfire. Wildfires don’t play nice. Neither does serious illness. Wildfires don’t stop and pause and wait until you’re ready. Neither does serious illness. If conditions are right, wildfires will just grow. If conditions are right, serious illness will show it’s most brutal features. Wildfires burn hotter than most other fires. Their burn is more destructive. Serious illness causes destruction to our bodies, mind and soul. Some of that destruction will leave permanent damage to our bodies. You can’t play with a wildfire…or it will consume you. You can’t play with serious illness. You have to be strong, fierce, calculative, persistent, consistent, intentional and relentless.
So when you find yourself staring a wildfire down…when you can’t breathe, can’t walk, when you’re hurting so much you’re actually numb…just remember, wildfires may not play nice…but neither do you. Attack this serious illness from all angles. Get wise, get serious, get intentional, get pissed off sometimes, get scientific in your research and above all else, believe that you can create stabilisation, that you can keep this wildfire under control. And just as you would never fight a wildfire alone, never ever fight your illness alone.
Written and adapted through a combined effort of the writings by the so very talented Shonda Rhimes (Station 19) and the Apprentice Claire Lovell
