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 Department

Emergency 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

 

 

 

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