...On HIS Shift,

"Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down."

- Proverbs 6:20 (NIV)

Fighting a grass fire is a tougher job than most people can imagine... especially if they have never had to do it before.

I remember a time several years back when the departments in the county were fighting fire several days straight, almost all day and night, due to an 'outbreak' of grass and forest fires in the rural areas. It happens around the country all the time. And, right now, we are coming into fire season... dry conditions, high wind, and, unfortunately, people being careless.

What starts as small as a cigarette tossed out a window, can quickly grow into a thousand acre monster that destroys anything and everything in its' path.

Gossip is very much like a wildfire... what starts as a whisper, quickly spreads into a didjahearabout story that destroys everyone in its' wake.

I have heard the story from more than one person in our line of work, "The only thing I don't like about the fire service is all the back-stabbing and all the gossip." And, like grassfires, gossip has a "season" - when things are slow. Have you noticed that? When the runs are few, the gossip mill is cranking it out at full steam.

So, how do we stop the spread of gossip? Well, it's much like stopping a fire. Remember the fire triangle? Remove the fuel, you stop the fire. Same with gossip, remove the fuel (the malicious talk about someone) and all of sudden, the gossip stops. Amazing, huh?

Gossip and slander are mentioned numerous times in the BIBLE. Our REAL CHIEF frowns at gossip... at those who start it and at those who perpetuate it.

Here are some ways you can help stop the spread...

- First, realize when gossip "season" is active - in other words, if you haven't been running many calls, find something constructive to do in the "down time" - like cleaning or training.

- Don't talk about someone else in the department, unless it is to build them up.

- Don't allow another person to talk about a member of your department - as Barney Fife used to say, "Nip it! Nip it in the bud!"

- Finally, don't pass on stories about people. That means when someone comes up to you and say, "Hey, did you here about so-and-so?" - you can say, "No, and if you don't mind, I don't want to hear about them unless it is something positive."

Be a positive image promoter. Build up, don't tear down, as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved."

- Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

First, to all the moms out there... may I wish you a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY and hope you are being celebrated for all you do.

I know a mother and a mother-in-law and a wife who received a very personal Mother's Day gift from our REAL CHIEF - the physical life of their son (and husband).

Let me begin this story with a disclaimer - I have received permission from the man and his family to relate his story to you.

The call came in yesterday afternoon - "Medic __, a reported 4_ year old male complaining of difficulty breathing..."

Off we went. About half way to the call, we see our supervisor unit turn going to another call. He is about two blocks in front of us. Shortly thereafter, the medic unit he was enroute to assist called and advised, "Stable patient, you can disregard." Our supervisor got on the radio, "Dispatch, I will be in service off of Medic ___'s call, show me diverting to Medic ___'s run." The supervisor later told me, "Something told me I needed to divert to your call." Well, DUH. I wonder WHO told him that??? heheheh.

Anyway, we both arrive on scene simultaneously. The man's wife meets us out front and takes us in. We find the mind laying about 5 feet inside the front door. He is covered in dirt on his feet and hands. He is very pale and sweaty. He says he must have become overcome by the heat while working in his yard. He says he is fine. He says he doesn't want to go to the hospital.

We hooked up the monitor and took vital signs. We explain things and urge him to let us take him in. He finally relents.

He says, "Let me sit up, I feel a little better." And, as he starts to raise his head, his eyes roll back in his head, he seizes briefly ... and he dies - no pulse, no breathing. We see on the monitor "VFib" and get that GOD-given burst of speed. My partner breaks out the intubation equipment and starts bagging him. The supervisor hands me the defibrillator pads and I put them on the man. I give the man a precordial thump. Nothing. We fire up the defibrillator... "Clear, clear, everyone's clear." THUMP... the machine fires. A real rhythm. Wait! A real pulse! As my partner starts to intubate, the man takes a deep breath - and opens his eyes!!! We start the IVs and push the meds.

He starts talking to us! We load him in the unit. We start a drip as we are heading to the ER. The man looks over to me and says, "I saw my father."

WHOA. My supervisor was riding in with us in case he "codes" on us again. He looks at me and says, "Maybe I need to start going to church." Again.... well, DUH.

We get to the ER. The guy looks great. Vital signs are better than mine. As we are about to go out the door, the man grabbed my hand and shook it. "I don't know how to thank you. You saved my life." Not me, brother. My partner, my supervisor and I were simply tools used by the GREAT PHYSICIAN - GOD to restore this life. My hope and prayed at that point was that this man and his wife were followers of our REAL CHIEF.

I got that answer this morning. I got off shift and headed to the hospital. He was laying in the CCU. Well, actually, he was sitting up in his bed. His wife and his mother-in-law were there. They told me that he had went to the cath lab and two stints were put in last night.

I got to ask him about seeing his father. He said that he saw a lot faces, but recognized his father. He said that he felt like he was trying to say something to his father, but couldn't. And then, he said he saw the "proverbial" bright light. He said it was like looking into the sun, but it wasn't blinding. I blurted out, "I hope you go to church" and he and his wife smiled, "OH, we DO!" They told how the "whole church" came down and prayed with them last night.

Today is Mother's Day. And a man is alive because of his FATHER. Our FATHER. He is not alive because of anything that any human did individually. He is alive because of the amazing GRACE of GOD... "for it is by grace that you have been saved..." Our REAL CHIEF is speaking of our eternal life with HIM when we give our life to CHRIST.

Happy Mother's Day. Give mom a call. I love serving alongside you as you serve...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

- Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

It's been a rather trying few weeks for my family, for several friends and, I bet, for some of you, as well.

It all seems to pile up sometimes, doesn't it? I wrote about some of things I have been challenged with in the last article.

This week I have heard these stories:

- a woman, who is due to be married within a week, lost her father and, a week later, her uncle to car accidents.

- a person who's marriage is going through challenges gets the news that the spouse has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

- one of my closest friends was let go from his job due to "downsizing" - with no notice.

... and those are the ones I can remember right off "the top of my head."

Sometimes, life can seem over-bearing, can't it? We think to ourselves, "Why all at once?"

For me, at least, the problems seem insurmountable when I try to handle them or figure them out on my own. Then, I get depressed, frustrated, even angry that all these horrible things are getting thrust upon me at once.

It is only when I turn them over to my REAL CHIEF that the stress begins to subside. It's kind of like pulling up on a working fire and you are sitting in the officer's seat. Or, you are in the first-in ambulance to an MCI. In both cases, you must pass command to the next-in supervisor - you don't have the time to step back and take a look at the 'whole picture' - you have to concentrate on the task at hand.

Like I said in the last STRESS RELIEF - GOD is in control - not me. Our verse this week is another reminder that our REAL CHIEF is "on scene" with us. HE can and will "take command" - however, you have to do your part - you have to "pass command."

When things tend to pile up on the "emergency scenes" of your life, pass command! Ask our REAL CHIEF to assume command of the situations as you seek to serve HIM...