Stress Relief - A Weekly Article from the Fire & EMS Chaplain

"Hey, did you hear about Captain So-and-So?" "Oh yeah? Well, I heard that his wife left him." "They said that you really messed up on that scene." "I heard that she is trying to get him fired."

I am almost positive that every single one of you have heard one of these statements. Am I right? Worse though, have you ever muttered one of these conflagration starters? I am ashamed to admit that I have. I now make every concious effort to NOT talk about someone or to perpetuate a rumor. And, it's tough. There are times when there is something factual that can be said, but I stop and ask myself, "Is this really neccesary to talk about with others? Is this something that will shed positive light on that person?"

We work in a very tough profession. We not only work together, we sometimes live together. We save life and property together. Sometimes, we work together to save each others' life, don't we? That is a huge amount of togetherness... why are we often so divided?

In the Unified Command System, all agencies must work together as a team to mitigate a disaster. If one arm of that system fails to cooperate, the entire system can fail and people can die.

Do this... work together, will ya? Stop talking negatively about neighboring departments. Stop talking negatively about other agencies. Stop talking negatively about your Chief officers. Stop talking negatively about your line officers. Stop talking negatively about the other shift. Stop talking negatively about the folks on your shift.

Notice, I didn't say "stop talking." What I said was "stop talking negatively." We have a tough job... to successfully do that job, we must be unified! So, the next time someone comes up to you and says, "Hey, did you hear about..." Stop them and say something positive, like "No, but I know what a fine firefighter that person is" or "Hey, we have faults, too. But, I think they are a great department." In other words, try to turn the 'negatives' into 'positives.' In doing so, you are making a huge stride towards unity in the service and it will show others that you are doing your best to serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Remembering FDNY's Heroes"

October 16th, 2002

"On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night."

- Psalm 63:6 (NIV)

I've just returned from New York. Last Saturday, I attended the Memorial Service for the FDNY for all the men who had died in the last two years. That number, of course, included the three hundred and forty-three who died at the World Trade Center.

I had the honor of going inside Madison Square Garden and sitting with the crews from 10 Engine and 10 Truck. They lost five of their bravest that horrific day. They are a part of 1st Battalion... which lost twenty-four that day. It was a very well-done Memorial. The politicians, naturally, were there. The Chief of Department spoke. The former and current mayors spoke. There was also a soloist and a small choir. The Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Corp played. The families of the departed filled the entire floor area of the Garden. Then, outside in the pouring rain, were about 100,000 firefighters from all over the world who marched, in the rain, about two miles only stand in the rain some more in order to watch the ceremonies on Jumbotron TVs set up outside the Garden.

We were all there to remember. To remember the last day of the lives of some of the heroes of our society. They showed a picture as each name was read. Most were in uniform... you know... that mugshot-looking picture from the academy. But, others set a more personal tone as they were shown holding their children or in wedding photos.

Our verse talks about laying awake and remembering. I think we all know what that is like.

Our verse, though, is laying awake dwelling on our REAL CHIEF. Try doing that. Especially as we start feeling bad about our horrific losses that day last year... shift your thoughts to GOD.

Remembering is good. Remembering GOD is what will get you through the tough nights...

...On HIS Shift,

ps- I will be out of town again from 10/18 - 10/24, so there will be no article this Sunday.

"Slow Shifts"

October 6th, 2002

"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder."

- 2 Corinthians 12:20 (NIV)

I've noticed something... when the calls are few, the tempers flare. Jealousy rages. Gossip is spread. Innuendo takes over. However, if your crew is busy, there is no time time for all the foolishness, is there? Time and time again I have noticed how the power struggles within departments, or even amongst station crews, rear their ugly heads almost every time things slow down. Why? I think it is because of idleness. Instead of putting that "down time" to good use, we tend to try to fill that time trying to tear down our own brothers and sisters of the badge.

So, if we all know this happens, why do we let it occur time-after-time? Well, I believe it starts with just one person saying, "Hey, did you hear about..." Then, the next person repeats the gossip and adds to it... "Hey, did you hear that ... AND they did..." By the time the story has gone around the station (or stations), the rumor has become a "verified" story based on iron-clad information obtained from sources at CNN. Everyone, it seems has bitten into it. Everyone is uncomfortable.

The Apostle Paul saw this occurring in the church at Corinth apparently. And, he wrote this letter to them to try and stop the proliferation of evilness amongst them. Specifically, he mentions; quarreling, jealousy, anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. Now, if this can occur in a church, doesn't it stand to reason that it can occur in a fire or EMS station where few are followers of our REAL CHIEF? Of course.

So, here's what we need to do around the station (and especially during the slow shifts): Replace quarreling with harmony, jealousy with servanthood, outbursts of anger with outpourings of love, factions with unity, slander with encouragement, gossip with study, arrogance with humility and disorder with discipline. If you are the one to start these habits, it may, like rumor, spread. Wouldn't it be nice to come to work at a harmonious station where everyone was working hard 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.

STRESS RELIEF is written every week, usually on Sunday afternoons.