I remember when I was a “first responder.” I remember when I was certified to be a part of those individuals who were providing an “essential service.” I remember when an acute, community need would be present, such as a house fire, and I would be called out to perform the essential service for which first responders are trained, and always at the ready, to provide.
I remember when I was an officer in the volunteer fire department of my local community. I remember when I was a trained, volunteer fire fighter and a certified emergency medical technician making squad runs to respond to people experiencing the fear-laced need for critical care and transport to the hospital. There was a physical and emotional adrenaline rush to be so needed and prepared to make a first response.
Today I am over 70. I have not been considered a first responder or an essential service provider in long time. But, emotionally at least, I want to think of myself in that “essential service/first responder” sort of a way. Physical realities, however, require that I get real.
Getting real means, in part, that there are moments in these days of acute community need that I can have feelings of no longer being useful except in an encouraging role for those serving on the front line of things. Emotionally this can be a pale moon shadow experience to that of providing a needed, direct service.
Sometimes such emotions can be compounded. Sometimes the realization hits me that while I am very grateful for being able to actively enjoy each new day, I am often taken aback that my certifications have radically changed. Now I am a card-carrying senior citizen. Just by virtue of age, I am in the “high risk” category of folks. I am in the category of those encouraged to stay home, to go out only when absolutely necessary and entitled by age for senior shopping hours at the pharmacy or grocery store.
It has long been noted that new occasions teach new duties. But new occasions also face us with the fact that regarding new duties there can also be a lack of them! It is a significant learning curve to accept that reality. It is a significant learning curve, for instance, to learn the role of staying out of the way so that one does not become an unintended part of the problem.
When such emotions come what are we to do with ourselves?
There are at least two dynamic, spiritual truths which are at the very foundation of the Judeo-Christian way of things.
The first is that a life-changing perspective is found in what is called the fifth Commandment. Namely, to honor one’s father and mother that one might live long in the land. (Exodus 20:12). This is not a religious school lesson to be nice to mom and dad. It is far deeper than that. Basically, it is the revelation that human beings are more than their work role function. People are more than what they do…OR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE…to earn their bread no matter how needed the service may be or have been.
The commandment to honor father and mother is the mandate to recognize that there is value in the span of life. It is the recognition that life in its entirety has great value. It is the teaching that being a first responder and a person of essential service is a role that is always expanding in definition.
A second dynamic spiritual truth is the core, spiritual belief that there is ALWAYS a future. Time does not run out on us. Not only that, usefulness and meaningfulness are always expanding understandings of one’s purpose in The Kingdom of God.
There are many references to this ancient truth. One of them is discovered in Joel 2:28. “Your sons AND DAUGHTERS will prophecy, your young men shall see visions and your old men will dream dreams.” There is so much to absorb in this concept. But, certainly one of them is that there is always a vital future. The best years are not age-related and never behind us. There is always what God has in store for each of us.
Here is the truth. Each of us has a spirit that can go viral for great good at any moment in life. Life in abundance is our gift. This means each and every one of us can be a first responder as a vital provider of essential service to others in need.