Pepperdine, Fire, And God

Update: More On Pepperdine, Fire, And God

Phillips Theme Tower Franklin Fire

I am grateful for the many folks who reached out to me last week upon hearing the news of the Franklin Fire that tore through Malibu and threatened the Pepperdine University campus. I did not have time to respond individually to everyone, so I thought I would share here what my wife Courtney and I experienced.

We returned to our on-campus home late Monday night after attending a university Christmas party. We were awakened at 1:00 a.m. by a neighbor knocking on our door to alert us that a fire was approaching campus (we had lost power and cell service so we did not receive the warning alert from the university or government officials). We packed a few things and left campus and drove to a hotel in Ventura. Courtney took this photo as we left our home:

Franklin Fire (Via de Casa Tue Morning) Cropped

Although the fire threatened the main campus from the east on Tuesday morning, firefighters were able to protect all structures, including faculty and staff condos on Baxter Drive and Tiner Court. The fire re-gathered strength and threatened the graduate campus from the north on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, but firefighters again were able to protect all structures, including faculty and staff condos on Chaparral Circle, Mariposa Circle, and Via de Casa (where Courtney and I live).

A friend sent me photos of the area taken Tuesday evening:

Franklin Fire (Via de Casa Tue Evening)

and Wednesday afternoon:

Franklin Fire (Via de Casa Wed Afternoon)

This map from Cal Fire shows what an amazing job the firefighters did in protecting our campus (gold indicates areas impacted by the fire):

Fire Map 4

Franklin Fire Map - My Home 2 (121124)

In a delightful coincidence, on Wednesday night we ran into two of the firefighters who battled the fire at Pepperdine — they were checking into our hotel for some much-needed sleep after working for 36 hours straight. They were part of the crew that protected the homes on Via de Casa (where Courtney and I live) on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. We thanked them profusely and invited them to join us at our annual law school dinner on September 27th.

Firefighters at Hotel

Tim Spivey, Vice President for Spiritual Life, captured the feelings of the Pepperdine community when he praised God, firefighters, and university leadership for getting us through this ordeal. Tim later wrote a wonderful reflection on his experience, Sheltering in Place: Encountering God in the Fire (Literally), and concluded:

It is natural for us to want to run away when a storm or fire comes upon us suddenly. When we are afraid, it is also common for us to trust in the safety of something that cannot really provide it.

However, if we really believe God is our refuge, we would do well to consider our response to fearful circumstances. The opening lines of Psalms 46 come to mind:

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

I suppose we can add, “Let the fire burn,” too. The principle is simple: The safest place to be is sometimes right where we are. If where you are is with God, you are safe.

There are numerous psalms that express this unshakeable truth:

God is our refuge. He will protect us. We do not need to fear.

If you find yourself in the midst of a storm, an earthquake, or a fire, literally or figuratively—consider sheltering in place and trusting God to protect you. Do not rely on your own wisdom. Don’t let your fear direct your steps. Shelter in place by praying, by worshipping, and trusting the God who has seen you through fire after fire before. Scripture also tells of His faithfulness in times like these.

Maintain your life year-round. For, we don’t know when the storm (or fire) will come. But, it will (Matthew 7). When it does, we can trust God, our refuge.

As I have been reflecting on this past week, I keep thinking about the number of times fire has threatened Pepperdine through the years. This is the second fire Courtney and I have lived through during my time as dean, following the Woolsey fire in 2018 (See Fires Cause Massive Destruction In Malibu, But Pepperdine Is Safe). Pepperdine has been impacted by at least seven fires in its history. Perhaps there are useful lessons from Scripture to draw from this history. For example, several Bible passages highlight how fire can refine us:

1 Peter 1:6-7 (New Living Translation) So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Zechariah 13:9 (New Living Translation) I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

1 Peter 4:12-13 (New Living Translation) Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

As a Christian, my faith reminds me that the safest place to turn in a firestorm—whether figurative or physical—is Christ. He paid the ultimate price for me on the cross. I take refuge in Him because being with Him is the safest place I could ever be.

Fox News, Pepperdine University Cross Survives Franklin Fire: ‘Grateful to God’:

A cross overlooking Pepperdine University miraculously withstood a wildfire that came dangerously close to the Malibu, California, campus and forced students to shelter in place earlier this week.

A video shared by the campus on Wednesday shows a discernible hiking trail leading up to the unscathed cross surrounded by scorched dirt and vegetation.

The school shared an unattributed quote from someone who said they became “teary-eyed” and “grateful to God” as they moved closer to the cross.

The cross sits at the top of a hiking trail that extends three miles into the Santa Monica Mountains.

The original cross burned down during the Woolsey Fire in 2018. The current 20-foot cross was placed there by the brothers of the Sigma Chi fraternity, the school said in a blog post.

Fox Weather, Cross Overlooking Malibu Offers Hope to Pepperdine University After Surviving Franklin Fire

For more on Pepperdine and the Franklin Fire, see: