Friday often signals relief for many professionals to recharge, reconnect, and reflect. But what happens when a peaceful weekend morning turns into a moment of reckoning?
I woke up early Saturday morning after my usual rituals, walked to the balcony to retrieve the garbage put there the night before, only to have the morning greet me with a freshly floral scent. A calm and peaceful clothed me, I echoed. “What a beautiful day.” Closed the door and proceeded to the kitchen. Prepared breakfast, cleaned the stove and proceeded back to bed. I was still tired from lack of sleep.
In seconds, I was out.
Later, I woke up but remained in bed, still too tired to remove, but a strong feeling to get up and get dressed moved me to do so. As I did, the fire alarm blared. Initially dismissed as a false alert, the urgency in neighbors’ voices drew me to the window. I leaned my head closer to the window and looked to see one of the units engulfed with thick black smoke. The fire was real and completely out of control, as the picture below shows.
THE CHOICE TO CHOOSE
The apostle Paul had difficulty at times when it came to obedience. This is what he had to say about the law. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are advantageous.” Paul fought to do the right thing. And had to have tremendous strength of self-control. We need to have days like these. When times are difficult for everyone. Some are unable to hold a job, discriminated against, mentally stressed, and financially weak. The temptation to disobey rules some will take.
However, each one has the freedom to obey or to disobey rules. The ifs ought to be considered when the choice to disobey is made.
Every choice we make involves another. So be careful of the choices being made.
THE IMPACT OF DISOBEYING RULES
By Monday, the consequences were widespread. Power outages disrupted remote work. Local businesses were forced to close temporarily. Residents faced financial setbacks. All because of one unit, one incident, one choice.
LESSONS FROM DISASTERS
What can be taken away from disasters?
This fire reminded me of past disasters that reshaped national policies and public behaviour:
- The Lac-MĂ©gantic Rail Disaster (2013, Quebec): A train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded, killing 47 people. It led to sweeping changes in rail safety regulations and emergency response protocols across Canada.
- Hurricane Katrina (2005, U.S.): Beyond the devastation, it exposed systemic failures in infrastructure, emergency planning, and social equity—prompting reforms in FEMA and urban planning.
Both events taught us that negligence, whether personal or institutional, can cost lives and livelihoods. And that change often comes too late.
So, as I stood in observation of those around me and the service workers of the fire department, one neighbor came and stood with me. As we talked, she was a bit anxious about not being able to get back into the building to her unit. So, I said, “Did you leave without any thing of importance. This is a perfect opportunity for some to take advantage of the situation to break in and steal;” The concern stated due to experience.
“No,” she responds.
“Do you have an emergency kit set up for situation such as this.”
“No,” she says.
“Well, you should,” I responded and explained the reason why I had one, due to a lack of time to gather certain items.
There’s a lesson to learn in every failure, in every success story; we just need to look to find the pot of gold, so to speak, at the end of the rainbow. For businesses, it’s a reminder to audit your risk, reinforce your values, and empower your people to make responsible choices. Because in the end, the cost of disobedience isn’t just personal—it’s communal
I am sure when all was over, my neighbor left with something learned.
Let’s consider each other in our choices. Much thanks and appreciation to all the firefighters involved in Saturday’s fire on The Esplanade.
Better The End 