We see them all of the time and we sometimes get a bit nervous when they quickly approach in our rear view mirror. Flashing lights. Loud wailing sirens and the urgency for us to quickly find a place to pull over as they speed by.
They are first responders and what they do day in and day out is absolutely awe inspiring.
I remember reading the words of a first responder once that said:
"Saving someone is one of the greatest feelings in the world. But you might not be saving a life. People can be ‘saved’ in many different ways (outside of religion). In EMS, there are so many things you can be where you are a savior of someone else. You are the calm one in the midst of a storm. You are the rational one in irrational circumstances. You are the knowledgeable one when little is known. You are the one who listens when the rest of the world is deaf. You know what is wrong when others draw a blank. You are the one grieving when there is no one else who cares. Or you are willing to be honest when others skirt the truth. These are awesome feelings, amazing circumstances."
In last weeks post (Stopping Bullets: Click Here), I introduced the idea that not reacting to harmful words was like stopping bullets from an adversary and how learning to take a bullet proved the strength of the internal armor the Holy Spirirt provides us.
This week I would like to look at the flip side of a passage we looked at last week and see the power of this passage from another view point.
"Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" ~ James 3:3-5
I read this passage and I see the power of the spoken word. It is compared to a fire and a fire has both the ability to destroy life or to enrich life.
You can bring destruction into a person's life through the words you give them, or you can build great things into the soul of another.
As Christian believers, I look at our opportunities to speak to people to be like a spiritual first responder of sorts.
Think about the last terrible encounter that you had with another person for a moment. Their spirit was in a place of pain when you showed up on the scene. Seconds before you spoke with them, you had no idea what was going to be waiting for you when you pulled up, but you were chosen to speak with them. Why?
Why were you chosen to cross paths with the people you have today? Because you had within you, what they needed. You have the Holy Spirit and you were able to assist in the way you were made to do so.
An EMT is not a doctor or a surgeon. They often can only assess based upon what they see since they have very few instruments or diagnosis helps. It strictly comes from what they know in their head and in their heart. The code they operate by is similar to the understood code of the believer.
- to conserve life, alleviate suffering, promote health, do no harm, and encourage the quality and equal availability of emergency medical care.
- to provide services based on human need, with compassion and respect for human dignity, unrestricted by consideration of nationality, race, creed, color, or status; to not judge the merits of the patient’s request for service, nor allow the patient’s socioeconomic status to influence our demeanor or the care that we provide.
- to not use professional knowledge and skills in any enterprise detrimental to the public well being.
- to respect and hold in confidence all information of a confidential nature obtained in the course of professional service unless required by law to divulge such information.
- to use social media in a responsible and professional manner that does not discredit, dishonor, or embarrass an EMS organization, co-workers, other health care practitioners, patients, individuals or the community at large.
"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." ~James 3:6-12
We have an AMAZING opportunity in front of us today! Do we have all the answers? NO! Do we have the most incredible source in the universe within us? YES!
So we ask God this morning to open our hearts, ear, and eyes to see what He has for us and when we speak to others, we ask The Source to speak through us and trust that what He gives us is exactly what is needed.
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-6
Think back for just a moment of the people God used right in the middle of the very last wall that you faced on your path? The walls (Difficult circumstances) were filled with spiritual first responders who God used to help you for "such a time as this". Were they trained emotional surgeons? No. They were parents, friends, co-workers, believers and even children. A first responder is not a job that you do just because you want or need a job. Anyone can carry the title of First Responder, but a true first responder is one who carries in their heart the sincere desire to help those who need it and are willing to sacrifice their own safety and comfort to do so. Your walls (Difficult circumstances) in life are full of faces and names of God's First Responders.
You may not have met them yet today, but they will be coming across your path today. No matter what you find at the scene of that connection opportunity, remember that you are God's First Responder!
"...Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" ~ James 3:5
Climbing with you,
~Dan
*If this blog post was helpful, you will enjoy the following posts as well.
Dan, this post speaks well for Christian poets and writers and other communicators for Christ, so I'll highlight on the Christian Poets & Writers blog - http://www.christianpoetsandwriters.com. Thanks and blessings.
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