| Main RoomAbout this Chaplaincy
The Library
STRESS RELIEF
"Grieving..." The Theater FREE Movie The Den Fire Gear The Study Study Tools
Check out my online auctions... LIVE!
Copyright © 1999-2001 Emergency Ministries. All Rights Reserved. |
October 2001 The "instruction book" for life is the Bible.
"Critical Incident" October 28, 2001 "I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD." - Ezekiel 34:15 (NIV) As the great theologians, The Beatles (hehehehe), once wrote, "I get by with a little help with from my friends..." Well, they got it partially right. I get by with the help of my friends that my REAL CHIEF sends to me when HE knows I need them. That happened this past week. If you have ever been through Critical Incident Stress Management training, you were taught that the "number one" critical incident is a line of duty death. Well, I spent three weeks at "ground Hero" (NOT zero!) and worked with three hundred and forty-three line of duty deaths. I lived it, I saw it, I smelled it.
I have been feeling the effects of critical incident stress; over-eating, sleeplessness, smelling the site, fatigue, irritability, etc. But, I didn't think I was ready for a debriefing yet, as I know I will be going back up there. However, I also was getting to the point where I would choke up just talking about my experiences up there.
Well, my REAL CHIEF knows what I need and when. I was fortunate enough to go to the annual Federation of Fire Chaplains training conference. Yes, it's true, I spoke about some of my experiences to the attendees there... and, I cried again. Several of my peers approached me and offered support. I finally sat down with one of them for a "formal debriefing." I feel so much better. Oh, I still think about the awful things that our brothers in NYC are having to endure on daily basis. But, I am not personalizing it as much anymore. We also learned at the conference about "burnout" as Chaplains. Well, at least I learned that I had all of the major symptoms. You know why? Because I haven't learned to take some time off. Plain and simple. I mean, even Jesus got away sometimes. Why shouldn't I? So, I am going to have to learn to take one day out of the week and turn off the seven pagers, the radio and the computer. You see, I believe that our REAL CHIEF speaks to us through three ways; through the Bible, through the church and through other believers. This past week, HE sent some of my peers to tell me to slow down. As our verse this week instructs us... HE will have us lie down and rest. Our REAL CHIEF knows we have to take care of ourselves so that we can serve more efficiently... ...On HIS Shift,
"Lightbar" October 21, 2001 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."" - John 8:12 (NIV) <> Back when I first got in the emergency services arena, the first ambulance I worked in was a 1971 hightop Oldsmobile. It had two red flashers to the front and two to the rear, both sets being built in to the fiberglass hightop. It also had three four-bulb rotators; two on the lower section of the roof, above the driver and passenger, and one on the very top. It had two electronic siren speakers and a good ole' Q2 on the lower roof between the two rotators. Understand that this was back in the days before we understood that fourteen million decibels emitting from a Q2 poised a foot above your head just might cause some hearing problems! huh? heheheheh Today, our emergency vehicles are equipped with strategically-mounted strobes and/or LED's and up on the roof; either an ultra-bright halogen and/or halogen-strobe lightbar. The new lightbars are designed to not only get us somewhere safely, but also to protect us once we are on scene. I have even seen some advertised saying that you can see their lights up to 2 miles away! Even with all this new technology, the new lights still aren't very effective are they? I mean, people hit us all the time while we are going to a call. People have learned to ignore the lights. Riding with police, fire and EMS over the last few weeks in New York, I learned they also ignore sirens. Our brothers and sisters up there just "burp" their sirens as they approach intersections... that's it. They told me if they run their sirens continuously, the people get aggravated and won't pull over at all. Well, I am here to bring you news of the brightest "lightbar" in history; Jesus Christ, our REAL CHIEF. In this week's verse, HE tells us that whoever follows HIM will always be bathed in light! Imagine that; never having to be in the dark. Imagine a light so bright that it cannot be ignored by others around you! Our REAL CHIEF is that light. When you ask HIM to be your Incident Commander of life, HE begins to shine in you... and the light in you cannot be ignored by others around you! Then, they will begin to ask, "how can I get some of that light?" Then you can tell them about Christ being the light of the world when you serve... ...On HIS Shift,
"Ya' Gotta Get Dirty" October 14, 2001 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4 (NIV) <> Aren’t you glad that we now have a President leading this country through this battle with terrorism who asks for the prayers of the nation? who actually stands up on worldwide television and quotes Scripture? And, the scripture he quoted that night, the night of September 11, 2001 was from the 23 Psalm. Well, I spent 2 weeks in NYC, came home for six days and went back again for another week. I got home last night. I got dirty again. On my third day up there, I met FDNY Chaplain Everett Wabst…. over a three-week period, we went to every firehouse in the 1st battalion. We talked to well over 3000 rescuers form all over the world. As the site shrunk in number of personnel, we went around and counseled with the firefighters one-on-one. We listened to their stories of their walk in the valley; of how they got dirty to serve others. I went to both the temporary morgue, as well as the large Morgue at Bellevue Hospital. I have seen things and smelled things and felt things in my walk through the valley that no man should ever have to bear. I have heard the stories from the fireman of the people who jumped… I have heard the stories of running from shear terror… I have heard the anger… But, but being there, by getting dirty, I also was witness to God’s
presence in that valley. I heard fireman talk about going back to church… I
heard about how they are helping each other. I watched the out-pourings from all
over the world. In the Bible, we remember reading about how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and how He reminded them to wash each others feet… the feet that were dirty from miles of travel – of going out and doing God’s work - of getting dirty. Well, I write to you today by the grace of a loving God who has allowed me the privilege of getting dirty in order to walk trough the valley of the shadow of death… and of knowing, and trusting, that He will protect me. As we close, I want to share with you something I received by email sometime while I was up in NYC getting dirty. Within it, you will see reference to “the Priest” that died that horrible day. That priest was Father Mychal Judge. He was a Franciscan priest and was a fellow Fire Chaplain, serving the FDNY. The men loved him. He had a favorite saying: “If you really want to make God laugh, tell Him YOUR plans for tomorrow.” Those words would often make the men smile as we walked among them at ground zero. Please read this. "You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on
September 11, 2001. Neither will I. I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a
man who called his wife to say "Good-Bye." I held his fingers steady as he
dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is
OK...I am ready to go." I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to
their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and Signed, God Yes, I got dirty. And I will willingly do it again... probably in about three weeks. Why? Because I now know the importance of getting dirty in order to serve... ...On HIS Shift,
It is my prayer that the verses we discuss help each of you as it has helped me deal with the amount of stress we are all faced to deal with. If you are not yet saved, I have Good News for you. Jesus loves you very much and His Holy Spirit is drawing you to Him. To learn more, click here.
© 1999 - 2001 Emergency Ministries. All Rights Reserved. STRESS RELIEF is written every week, usually on Sunday afternoons. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
