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January 2009
Day One
Then
Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and
Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has
the LORD helped us."
1 Samuel
7:12.
There
have been a few moments in my calling as a minister that I didn’t want to be a
minister. I have never doubted God’s calling on my life, but what I have
called into question was my ability to perform my duties. I was recently
reminded of one of those moments.
One year ago the phone rang at my
home shortly after 7am. It was a good friend of mine who works as a Supervisor
for Emergency Medical Services. I could tell by his voice something was wrong. Paul Ellington, a young firefighter for Oregon Hill Fire Department was
responding to a house fire when he wrecked. He died instantly. The accident
was witnessed by several fellow firefighters. Paramedics, some who knew him
very well, were called to the scene to pronounce him dead. I could feel the
grief in my friend’s voice as he related the details. Since I have a background
in fire fighting and emergency services, I was asked to come to the fire
department and talk with everyone. Although I’ve had training in Critical
Incident Stress and knew how to conduct a group meeting, this was something I
didn’t want to do. What would I say to those that have lost a friend, a
brother, a son?
That was a day I didn’t want to be
a Minister or a Chaplain or even a friend. I didn’t want to participate in
their grief. What message could I bring to a grieving crowd of people? What is
there to say, really? I arrived at the department to find a scene of chaos. Every emergency service department; fire, ems, sheriff and 911 dispatchers were
there, along with area media. I clumsily made my way into the truck bay area of
the fire department. They had placed chairs in a semi-circle and Paul’s
firefighting gear was lying in a pile on the floor in front. When I found the
chief and identified myself, everyone was called to find a seat. As the crowd
came together, a hush fell across the truck bay and 75 pairs of eyes were on
me. What do I say?
To this day, I don’t remember how
I started that meeting. What I do remember is that everyone started telling
stories about this fallen firefighter. We even laughed at times. We cried
together, mourned together, remembered together and we prayed together. It was
a powerful moment in that tiny rural fire department. It was a God moment.
I stayed in touch with them
throughout the year and each time I talked with the fire chief he would admit it
had been a tough year. December brought to my mailbox a letter of invitation to
meet once again at the Oregon Hill Fire Department for a New Year’s Day
breakfast in honor and memory of Paul Ellington. I was there. New Year’s Day I
found myself in the same place at the exact moment, exactly one year apart. It
was a time to remember. I gave the opening prayer thanking God for His
continued care and love and remembering the words of the prophet Isaiah when he
said God gives beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning and praise instead of
despair (Isaiah 61:3).
We ate breakfast and talked about
things like “it’s hard to believe it’s been a year.” The fire chief spoke to
the crowd, still with wet eyes and a slight hoarseness to his voice. His
countenance more than his voice told of a hard year. We again had times of
laughter and times of tears. The gathering was dismissed and asked to meet at
the flag pole in front of the department where a tarp was covering something at
its base. The chief, once again, spoke of sacrifice and service, love and
commitment and then he unveiled a beautiful bronze plaque set in brick and
bearing Paul’s name, a life given in the line of duty. And then he prayed. The
chief prayed and thanked God for what he has done for the department and all the
lives that come together there to serve a community they love.
As I left that morning, I was
reminded of a verse from 1 Samuel. The prophet of God sets up a stone that he
calls ‘Ebenezer’ meaning ‘stone of help.’ After Samuel calls on God with prayer
and sacrifice, God defends Israel against an attack by the Philistines. Samuel
places a stone where his prayer was answered and said, “Thus far has the LORD
helped us.” It was a place of remembrance to show generations to come where
God had met their needs. It was a place where Fathers and Mothers could take
their children and their grand-children and declare this is where God came a
helped us during one of our darkest times. This is where we remember not a
tragedy, but a sacred moment when God’s love met human need and a community was
healed.
I will never forget day one of
2008 and day one of 2009 when I was asked to be included as a witness to one of
God’s miracles.
See you
Sunday,
Pastor Kevin
Chaplain Kevin Cochran, 1410
Bethany Fire DepartmentEmergency Chaplain
www.emergencychaplain.org
Federation of Fire Chaplains
www.firechaplains.org
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
www.icisf.org
North Carolina Chaplains Association
www.ncchaplains.com |
