Worth It!

This past weekend, Palmer Township held its community festival called, Palmer Days. The goal of the four-day event is for the community to gather, connect, and socialize, supporting one another. I’ve attended for many years and have always enjoyed the atmosphere, music, fireworks, and food - definitely the food!

This year was the first I served as both Police and Fire Chaplain. In my mission to connect First Responders with the community at a deeper level, and care for residents, I was honored to represent Chaplaincies for both departments. During one of my “walking tours” I was approached by an older couple. My cap and shirt clearly embroidered with “Chaplain”. The man wore a military cap, proudly displaying his years of service. In a turnabout, the man thanked me for my service, something I usually do to veterans. As is my custom, I asked about his military service, he briefly shared and then cut to the chase with a very profound statement. Leaning forward, with a raised hand while Looking directly into my eyes he said, “You were worth it, you were worth it.”

I was floored. I didn’t know what to say. I’d never had this kind of thing happen. And before I could gather my thoughts, the man and his spouse slipped into the crowd. I didn’t see them again. I wish I could track him down and hear his story because I’d like to know what heaven or hell he went through for me! I’ve had a lot of time to meditate on these four words. They’ve brought a sharper focus to what I do as Chaplain.

In our work, especially as Chaplains or First Responders, is our mindset like this man? I have to admit, all I can remember of what he said were those few words and “airborne” on his cap. He saw me as worth the risk of jumping out of perfectly good planes, engaging hostility. In our service, are we going on calls, training, and honing skills for “the job” or for the people we serve? Perhaps the two overlap, but often the day-in-day-out grind causes a dulling of the real luster of why we serve.

Do we see others as “worth it” as we're awakened at 3:00 am, spending time away from family, and often placed in harm's way or have we lost the essence of why we serve as Chaplains, Firefighters, Law Enforcement, EMTs, and Dispatchers? Are we jaded? Do we see the trees or just the crazy, overgrown, wild forest?

My challenge to everyone reading, especially Chaplains, is this: make sure you truly know why you do what you do. Be sure people remain the focus of your efforts so, when on the rare and often awkward occasion someone thanks you for what you do, you can look them square in the eyes and say, “You’re worth it!”