Christmas Stories: 'Vigil of Hope'

At one time or another, many of us have needed faith, friends, and family to help us through difficult times. In "Vigil of Hope" -- a Christmas story with a powerful message -- the main characters are forced to lean heavily on their pillars of support during a tragedy on Christmas Eve. The experience winds up giving them a deeper understanding of the meaning of Christmas. Read "Vigil of Hope," and you'll be reminded that there is much more to Christmas than parties and presents.

"Vigil of Hope"

We had made it through a rough October fire season with minimal damage. Christmas was now two days away, and the thought of another brushfire near the Cleveland National Forest was the furthest thing from my mind. But when my husband, Rick, a dedicated firefighter, got the call that a fire had broken out on a ridge about ten miles from our home, my stomach went tight.

I took a deep breath and kissed him goodbye as he went off that day to fight what was being described as a small but dangerous fire. Rick assured me that they would tame the blaze in no time and that he would be home the next day for a wonderful Christmas Eve with our three small children.

As I busily made holiday preparations, I kept the TV on, with the volume low enough so as not to disturb the children playing in their rooms. I occasionally peeked at the TV, grateful to see only one short local news update about the fire, which was now under control. I sighed with relief as the reporter on the scene announced that the lack of high winds made the fight a lot easier.

I was sure Rick would be home for dinner, but he called from his cell phone to let me know that they were having trouble with some hot spots -- and that he would be home late. At least, he said, the fire was almost completely put out.

Four hours later, I put on the 11 o'clock news and was horrified to see that the top story was the fire, now raging out of control. The reporters on the scene described the situation as grave. Apparently, the winds had kicked up that night and were fanning the hot spots into new fires that converged on an area of extremely dense dried brush. Battalions from all over Southern California were called in to assist, and some were even coming from as far east as Arizona.

My children were in bed, so I sat frozen on the couch watching in horror. When the phone rang, I practically jumped out of my skin. I answered breathlessly, expecting to hear Rick's voice, but it was my sister, Jane, concerned about the fire. She lived in the next town and was on her way over, despite my protests.

I spent all night with my sister and two neighbors, who had come over to be with me as we waited for word. Several nearby towns closer to the forest edge were being evacuated, and I began to wonder if I should prepare overnight bags for the kids. My two neighbors left around 3:00 a.m., but my sister stayed as Christmas Eve day broke without a word from Rick.

By now, the local channels were showing uninterrupted coverage of the fire, which was now spreading at a disastrous rate. Water-dropping planes and choppers with fire retardant were flying constantly overhead on their way to the fire site. My kids were stirring, so Jane went in to help them get dressed as I prepared breakfast, my ears glued to the TV.

I got a call from Rick three hours later. He was on a break, and I could hear his labored breathing through the bad connection. He would not be home for a while, he told me, as his command was going to set backfires on a ridge to try to stop the fire from leaving the National Forest area and jumping a highway. "What a way to spend Christmas Eve day," he laughed, but I didn't hear much humor in his voice.

By late afternoon, dozens of friends and family members had converged on my house. I wasn't sure if I felt better surrounded by loved ones or completely alone in my fear and horror. Still, the noise and human bodies alone served to keep me sane and did wonders for my kids, all of whom were now really frightened. They wanted their daddy home, but they knew he was working hard at a job he loved. For little ones, their wisdom often surprised me, and it certainly gave me strength.

It was a reporter on the local broadcast that broke the terrible news. A crew of ten firefighters had been trapped on a ridge while attempting to set backfires. The winds had changed, and the fire had turned back on them with such speed and fury that flames now surrounded them. I knew in my heart that this was Rick's crew. Jane and I exchanged glances, silently wondering how much worse it could get. I watched the live footage in a state of shock.

Go to the next page to find out how "Vigil of Hope" ends.