Baptism by fire.
It was nearing midnight and I was wide awake. I'd just finished some lesson prep for ministry and just couldn't fall asleep. The wind whipped wildly in the cold of the January night. What to do?
Without warning, the emergency tones for Palmer Municipal Fire Department screeched over the pager. House fire on Timberlane Drive!
I was fairly new to fire Chaplaincy. The first year I was cautious and respectful of the trained crew at PMFD27. I kept my distance, not having any fire certifications and not wanting anyone to view me as claiming something I didn't possess. I had some Chaplain-specific certifications under my helmet, but this was the first, real call I would respond to.
Jumping in my truck, the address was only a few blocks from my house. Taking my personal vehicle so as not to take up a seat in the engine, I followed my GPS. On location, it was only the Commissioner and me on the scene, initially. I quickly put on my PPE and made my way to the residence. Engine 2713 and Ladder 2721 were already in action as thick, black smoke billowed from the roof. Finding the homeowner, I positioned myself next to him but between my crew; a Chaplain has lots of things to consider on the fire grounds. Chainsaws screamed through the chilly night as ventilation was made in the attic. Attack lines flowed water and within minutes the fire was under control and extinguished.
I found my place with the homeowner, explaining why the guys on the roof were cutting yet another hole in the shingles. We spoke about contacting his insurance company, if he had a place to stay and which belongings he would gather from his uninhabitable home. He watched in awe at the surgical precision this group of highly trained volunteers displayed. I walked him through the house in the acrid aroma of charred wood, carpet, and building materials. Placing clothes in bags and assembling important documents, I ushered him with care and compassion on what was, for him, a nightmarish evening.
Most of PMFD had never seen a Chaplain in action on the fire grounds. Usually relegated to banquet prayers and funerals, Chaplains are those few and far between servants showing up in the worst of times. A Chaplain isn't needed until a Chaplain is needed!
My performance that night - yes, we're judged on performance - proved my worth to the firefighters and Commissioner of PMFD. I wasn't trying to prove anything, I was just doing my job, being empathetic and trying my best for someone at their worst. I'll forever remember Timberlane Drive when calling took on a new meaning and quiet performance gave credence to existence.
If you're a Chaplain, whether fire, police or EMT, stay humble. Train. Look for opportunities to serve. And no matter what, don't ever wonder what you'll do when you're wide awake at a-quarter-to-midnight!