Adversity Is Blind & Community Is Everything

Adversity is blind, personal, and always arrives without warning. It can strike suddenly, knocking us down and forcing us to rebuild our lives—much like we had to rebuild our home after an unexpected fire.

In those moments, we realize how deeply we depend on our community. Unfortunately, it often takes hitting rock bottom or facing catastrophe for us to truly understand how fragile life is. This past week, the world saw the devastation caused by the massive wildfires sweeping through California, destroying entire neighborhoods. I never thought it could happen to me or my family—until it did.

That cold January night forever changed our lives. I’ll never forget hearing my son cough and say, "Daddy, I can’t breathe." My heart stopped. At that time, my children were just two years old and six months old. After tucking them in, my wife noticed something was off— a faint smoky smell in our newly renovated home, where the fireplace had recently been serviced. We briefly discussed who should check on the kids, and I volunteered. I planned to check on Luke, but as I walked up to the second floor, I heard something no parent should ever hear—Leo was coughing and calling for help. When I opened his door, I was hit by a thick cloud of black smoke, suffocating and overwhelming. In that moment, my worst nightmare had become a horrifying reality. Later, the Fire Chief told me that if I’d arrived just two minutes later, we would have lost Leo to smoke inhalation.

That night, we lost our home. We faced what so many in California are experiencing right now—and it felt so unfair. The sense of loss, confusion, and emptiness was overwhelming, as you can never fully grasp what’s just happened in the immediate aftermath.

The only thing that made sense, though, was the strength of our community. People showed up for us in ways I never expected. Our temporary home at my parents’ house became a hub of donations—clothes, toys, and supplies poured in from generous people. Their home became a revolving door of kindness, support, and solidarity. You’d be surprised by who stands by you when adversity strikes. It’s in those moments that you realize how much we need each other. Without community, we are nothing.

So, step up for your community. Do what you can to be there for others. Be the support, the warmth, the blanket that helps others survive when life hits hardest.

From the Founder, Brian Mazza 1/13