I am the fireman, say a prayer for me

What does it mean to be a protector of life or more appropriately a saver of life? We underestimate the laws of nature when we see a police officer pull over a car or an ambulance leave with the sirens on, careening out into the distance.

We don't look at the fire truck and say, "Oh my God. Do these guys ever get a break?" No! For all we see is an official vehicle heading out to do a job.

So then what are these laws of nature that I speak of? They are the laws that bind us together as human beings. The fact that we don't hear these laws shout out in our minds their truths, kind of puts us as individuals at a disadvantage. It hurts to say it but a lot of what I am speaking of is merely common sense.

Take for example a police officer who is just pulled over a car and as you pass by you notice that the people inside are many and that only one officer is in the police car.

What do you feel the officer is thinking? I will not say what he is thinking but rather say that the process in which he does his thinking is called the "law of nature." Everyone has this law inside of them, no matter who they are.

What about the Paramedics in the ambulance? Do they have the "law of nature?" How about the firemen in the ladder truck? Do they have the "law of nature?" You are probably not alone if you are still unsure of what this "law of nature" is, especially if you don't understand the meaning for the production of this law. Yes. It is produced.

So, what does this all mean? It means that we have to look at the "law of nature." Science has proven that what goes up must come down. Have you ever been depressed? Have you ever felt fear? I mean fear for your life.

How about fear for another's life? How did you feel when you showed up for class thinking you were ready to take the exam and then, suddenly, you realize that you are unsure? Did you feel any "law of nature?"

How did you deal with the feelings that were inside? How about the fear of losing control? Such as what depression usually produces when one is contemplating on their reality?

Control is not an abstract thing when dealing with life. Our control is what we seek when in unmanageable conditions.  Now let us go back to what we think as we see the Police officer, the Ambulance (Paramedics or EMT), and the Fire trucks (Firefighters). Do you think that you have a different answer for the questions yet? I hope at least that you have started to think about them.

I will give you one example of "law of nature" written out. I am a Fireman, not literally, but only for this article. I am aware of the call, and so then I rush to my truck and don my equipment: My boots, suit, oxygen tank and my Helmet, and the mask plus the axe that I need to get in where there is no door.

I am not the driver of my particular vehicle so I am asking the other team members what they know about the place in which we are called. I am told that it is a multiple story building in which there are several hundred people living. I begin to feel the thoughts poor into my head... These thoughts are of saving lives and protecting the bystander. The building is surrounded by other buildings.

People have to watch. That is what people do. Will we be able to find all the people? I will not leave anyone behind. I will not panic when the smoke is heavy and I cannot see. I know how to feel my way thru. I will remember my steps so that I will not be lost myself. I hope that we are in time.

These building the rooms they burn so quickly. I don't want them to panic. I can get them out. I need to calm my heart rate. I need to relax. There are so many rooms; so many rooms. And how many people? I cannot be sure. I must go through every room that I pass.

God, help me so that I don't leave anyone behind. I don't want to lose control. I want to remember the rooms that I hit so that I don't miss any. God, the smoke will be heavy, so give me sight by feel as if my eyes could see clearly.

Don't let me lose one on this shift too. God, I am here to do my job and only you can protect me. I have a family at home. Be with them, God, while they are asleep, and bring me home to them. Amen.

What are the "laws of nature'? We all have these laws, don't we? Yes we do. Do we like to feel the stress of not being ready for the exam? No one likes to feel stress on any level.

Question: What can we do to relieve ourselves of unnecessary stress? We can be prepared. But in the end we may find that the stress we have strove so hard to diminish is still subsequently in our heads. Well, not all stress is bad, for stress is what allows us to think of the consequence.

We can ease that stress by thinking or listening or even by taking deep breaths. Or in the case of the fireman we may even be able to ask for help, whether it comes from God or a friend or family.

But the objective is to relieve the stress before it becomes unnecessary or harmful. How do we stop the "law of nature"? We cannot stop nature can we? No. We cannot stop nature! But we can ease its control over us.

So what does this have to do with me? Remember: I am a fireman. I want you to ease my pain. I will ease your pain, but only if I can. I don't know how you feel right now but I hope you can feel me at least. I have three kids and a wife at home who love me very much and worry about me when I am at work.

I spend three days at a time away from them, for that is how my shift works. I have two 18-hour day shifts then I am granted 48 hours off to see my family. Only to rotate back into a another three 18-hour night shift and finally 72 hours off.