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May 25 SacrificeJack is studying for his NIMS test. His children are playing Candy Land on the floor near him. They begin to argue about how to play the game. Jack asks them to play nicely or put the game away. Little Mike jumps up and runs to his father all but knocking Jack’s book out of his hands. “Play with us, Daddy”. “Yes” adds Julie, “Please play with us daddy”. Jack only has a three more days to study and he really wanted to watch the ballgame this afternoon. He was about to say no when he looks at his children. Laying his books aside he sits on the floor to play. “I can study later instead of watching the game”, he thinks to himself. This is one form of sacrifice. Although there are several definitions of sacrifice they come down to meaning the same thing, a loss sustained in the accomplishment of or as the result of something. A cost, the forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of someone or something considered to have a greater value. A selfless act of kindness or a good deed or a lose for greater gain. It may involved a risk such as injury or death or the loss of valued time with loved ones as is the case with firefighters. Or it could be as simple as losing a minutes on your lunch hour to take the next elevator because you let the wheelchair bound person take the first one. To me sacrifice isn’t truly given when someone does it grudgingly or expects attention or reward for their actions. Sacrifice is done out of love. The love of a person or a job well done. Sally and Peter were both contenders for the same yearly award at their fire station. They were neck in neck with votes. Peter decided that he would look for “opportunities” to clinch the award. He would be the first one off the engine, the first to run to the vehicles at accident scenes and the first to try to be in the right place at the right time. Sally was more laid back. She never sought the spotlight. Sally did her job quietly but well. Which of these firefighters do you think truly sacrificed for their fellow man? Compassion
As a member of Firefighter Ministries (an international organization) I am a contributing writer for the site "Beyond the Lights and Sirens".
As we perform our jobs it is easy to lose compassion. Most of us choice to detach ourselves from the daily experiences of our jobs and we lose our empathy towards our fellow man in the process. If we become too involved, too emotional we could lose our objectivity and with that the ability to do our jobs. Stress also causes us to be or seem to be unfeeling toward those we are serving. Emergency workers need to unwind and sometimes our jokes and comments are cruel. It’s the way that many of us deal with the horrors that we see everyday. We need to be careful that our words and actions are not seen or observed by victims and bystanders. This causes future trauma to both them and to us. Compassionless comments can also damage our co-workers. Do we know everyone that we work with well enough to know what life has given them along the way? Have they experienced the call to which we had just responded?
We’ve been called to a multiple trauma. Upon arrival we find the door open to the home. As we enter there is blood everywhere. Further investigation discloses two young college age women who had been murdered. It must have been a terrible, terrible ordeal. One of the women had a husband, who for whatever reason, decided that his wife and her friends should die. There had been a struggle and efforts to escape while is was stabbing them.
One of the women was found in the bathroom. While examining her to determine if we could do anything to help her we hear a noise. It seems to be coming from under the vanity in the bathroom. My partner opens the door and finds another young woman clutching the child of the murdered mother. I unbuttoned my job shirt and maneuvered the child under it holding her closely so that she doesn’t see her mother lying there. My partner all but carries the surviving young woman out shielding her from the horrible images that would last a lifetime.
By the time we get outside police officers and other emergency workers are arriving. Before we can get the surviving victims secluded a neighbor who had heard the battle inside the house comes out and yells, “That’s his car coming down the street!”. Not knowing if he has another weapon we hit the ground and shield the woman and child.
Every move made by everyone on the scene was made with the survivors in mind. Shielding them. Comforting them. But questions need to be ask. And along with remaining on the scene some remarks from unthinking co-workers. We must always keep in mind that we are there to relive suffering and be careful what we say.
Almost thirty years have passed. When I teach or talk about experiences through out my years of EMS and Firefighting Service I often wonder if that little girl is someone who is sitting in the group. Is another close friend or family member going to hear this story? What words should I use. This too is compassion.
Over the years I have grown and matured in many ways. One of those ways is to put my trust in God to lead me in all paths that I walk.
Compassion extends to asking the Lord on the way to a call, during an incident and after to guide the hearts, minds and hands of the helpers. To comfort all involved and heal the wounded bodies and souls. And maybe most importantly, if those that I am called to serve are without Him to lead them towards Him with the words and actions of that time.
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