Chimneys Stand Alone, Yet Stand Together

As the scenes of devastation from Los Angeles continue to flash across the screen, one of the more haunting sights are the lonely chimneys standing over what used to be homes. Entire streets once covered by leafy green canopies, are now reduced to ash, rubble, and rows of chimneys… silent sentinels marking spots where families once gathered.

While these scenes are heartbreaking, I think they teach a powerful and enduring lesson on resilience and connection.

These chimneys may be of different shapes and sizes. They may face different directions, and are oriented differently on each property. But each home has one. And despite all the destruction, these smoke-scarred monuments are the one recognizable thing that remains. When survivors carefully make their way across the rubble, standing in front of the fireplace anchors them into dual realities… reliving what once was… and processing how to move forward. Pointing to the tower of bricks with one hand, people turn and point with the other, saying:

· That room was there.

· The kitchen used to be there.

· Our table was in that corner.

And shake their head as if the memories have no other place to go.

And then they look around and see their neighbors all doing the same thing. For all the differences these communities may have had, the fire swept away all such divisions… leaving their chimneys to stand side by side in resolute determination

I find it interesting that we often say the terms “hearth” and “home” together. The word “hearth” comes from an Old English word (heorð: pronounced “heaorth”) indicating where the fire was made, the family gathered to eat, and warm themselves. The hearth made a house into a home, and though our modern kitchens may have migrated to microwaves and stove-top ovens, the term “Hearth” still brings us together, and connects us to the distant past.

I also find it interesting that the words “Hearth” and “Heart” share ancient roots. As the Hearth was the source of fire for the home, the Heart was seen as the source of fire for the body. And in both cases, these two words light up, warm, and renew the people who tend them.

Which brings us to the powerful lesson the deep connection between hearths and hearts can teach us.

Whenever we witness people uprooted by disasters…

Or whenever we, ourselves, face similar challenges that strip everything away…

…We get to see what remains standing in the aftermath.

Just as homes have hearths, humans have hearts. And just like hearths and chimneys survive fires, the human heart is similarly enduring.

Like chimneys, hearts come in different shapes and sizes. They may face different directions, and be oriented differently. But each person has one. And when people go through trying times, it is their character and heart that often remain the only things standing.

In the aftermath of such life altering difficulties, we may pick our way across the rubble and face ourselves in the mirror. Doing so anchors us in dual realities: Reliving what once was, while also processing how to move forward.

What kind of person am I? Who do I want to become? And like the survivors of the fire, we may face different parts of ourselves, remembering the past:

· I used to do that, but not anymore.

· I made a good decision at THAT moment and am proud of myself.

· I want to do better in THAT area of my life.

And sometimes we shake our heads as if the memories have no other place to go.

But in the aftermath of difficult times, it is there we are most likely to see the hearts of others who have also struggled. Just like chimneys, people with shared challenges seem to rise from the ashes and stand together side by side in resolute determination.

Because both hearts and hearths are meant to withstand fiery challenges, and bring people together.

Which brings us to you.

· What fires have you faced in your life? What did they take away?

· What remained standing and how did you chose to rebuild?

· More importantly, how have your challenges strengthened your ability to serve others?

Though the fires in Los Angeles have yet to be fully contained, the past few days have been filled with miracles. The outpouring and togetherness I’ve seen from communities across Southern California is heartwarming and inspiring. The stories are too numerous to count, but seeing donation centers brimming with supplies, friends and neighbors sharing GoFundMe links, and community centers reaching out in support is showing the best of us and the best of what makes us human.

Hearts, like chimneys, are rising from the ashes and standing together in resolute determination. And their examples invite us to look around… wherever we may be… and see how we can do the same for others who are also struggling.

May we strive for that kind of influence, and impact the people around us… be it our friends, neighbors, and those we serve every day in our professions…to feel our connection and genuine concern. Because enduring warmth does not come from the fire itself, but from those who gather around it.

Maybe then we will finally learn the deeper meaning of hearth and home.

Christian

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CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com