Gratitude ~ Emergency Services

Greetings Dear Reader,

Where I live I can sometimes hear sirens going down the motorway.  I can usually distinguish between police and fire/rescue sirens.  I try to always pray for those in need and those on the way. 

Do we really show gratitude to those who stay up all night and work the holidays so that we can be safe or obtain emergency care?  I am concerned that we do not understand the level of sacrifice they offer to serve us.  I become more aware each time I speak with my brother who is a paramedic. 

I am blessed that I have only needed emergency services a few times in my life.  In those times I have received excellent care.  None of those time was my life in danger.  Still, I need to have gratitude on behalf of the secondary benefit I receive. 

Last week I walked out of my door on the way to my car.  I found myself surrounded by uniformed police officers and detectives.  I immediately stopped, put my hands in clear sight, and asked if they needed me to do anything.  One of the uniformed officers politely told me that if I could show him my ID it would be helpful.  I did.

There were seven police vehicles, a forensic unit, and a few detective cars.  They were keenly interested in my neighbor.  After they verified my identification one of the officers walked me to my car and wished me well.  I thanked him for doing his part to keep us safe.  I asked him to pass on my gratitude to the team. 

As I drove away I again thanked God for those who serve us and protect us.  I prayed for my neighbor.  I still do not know what the issue was nor do I need to know.  What matters is that I am grateful for those who protect and serve and save.  I am thankful that I live in a place where people still pull over for emergency vehicles.  I have great gratitude for those who sacrifice so much just to keep us safe.

I thank them when I can.  I offer kindness whenever possible.  You would not believe the level of smile you get when you thank an officer blocking your driveway for enforcing the four-way stop sign on your corner.  How do you show your appreciation for emergency personnel Dear Reader?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Come as You Are – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

There is an aspect of sadness, pain, and longing that makes us human.  What I think we do not realize is that it also is what makes us part of the divine.  We are created in God’s image.  I realize not everyone believes that but I do.  God feels sadness, pain, and longing and every bit of it is for his creation.

The bottom line is that we need joy, healing, and completion.  We need love, acceptance, and belonging.  In the honest dark of night when the lurkers close in on us we know we need something beyond ourselves.  We are unable to make the journey out of the sadness and pain on our own.

Since we cannot heal or help ourselves we need to come to the one who can.  I realize that following Christ seems very exclusive and arrogant.  It is, however, an exclusivity that is open to everyone; an all-inclusive exclusivity if you will.  One need not do anything to improve in order to come to Christ.

I know that I need to do so every morning.  My life never works when I do not.  When I move away from Christ or fail to follow his lead the pain and longing resurface.  The enduring rest that is in Christ is all that sustains me. 

We all have to come as we are.  I must leave behind any pretense that I can rescue my own soul.  It is in Christ alone that the rescue is found.  I must lay down my hurt, lay down my heart, and come as I am.  You are welcome to come with me Dear Reader.

Come As You Are – David Crowder

Come out of sadness from wherever you've been

Come, brokenhearted; let rescue begin

Come find your mercy, O sinner, come kneel

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

Lay down your burdens

Lay down your shame

All who are broken

Lift up your face

O wanderer, come home

You're not too far

So lay down your hurt

Lay down your heart

Come as you are

There's hope for the hopeless

For all those who've strayed

Come sit at the table

Come taste the grace

There's rest for the weary

A rest that endures

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't cure

Lay down your burdens

Lay down your shame

All who are broken

Lift up your face

O wanderer, come home

You're not too far

So lay down your hurt

Lay down your heart

Come as you are

Come as you are

Fall in His arms

Come as you are

There's joy for the morning

O sinner, be still

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

Lay down your burdens

Lay down your shame

All who are broken

Lift up your face

O wanderer, come home

You're not too far

So lay down your hurt

Lay down your heart

Come as you are

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."  ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Come as You Are – Let Rescue Begin

Greetings Dear Reader,

I spent some of my early life working as a beach lifeguard.  I would watch from my lonely wooden tower as people swam, surfed, and played.  I was always looking for the danger.  I had to ignore everything else and be aware of the constant potential disaster lurking on the edge of the fun.

In our training we were taught over and over to be wary of those who clamped on to us when we approached them for rescue.  We were taught how to avoid and escape.  If we were not careful both the victim and the lifeguard could die.  We were taught to back off until the person was ready for rescue.

All disasters require rescue efforts.  The primary things we do when disaster strikes is to attempt to save the lives impacted by the event.  We leave behind our care for buildings, cars, and possessions to save lives. 

When a house catches fire the family gathers on the street and counts that each member is present.  They do not begin to mourn the loss of home until they are assured they have not lost each other.  Firemen run into burning buildings at risk of their lives to save the lives of those trapped in the building. 

We will die to save others.  We will do whatever it takes to rescue others.  We are urgent for rescue to begin when disaster strikes.  Our Father is not different.  We need rescue. We need to be saved from the shattered mess we have made of the world.  We burn it down around us and curse at our rescuer. 

I wonder just how often I refuse rescue from my pain and sorrow when it is offered.  Look at how often we hold on to pain, bitterness, and sin when we are offered freedom and rescue from it.  We continue to swallow the placebo knowing that we can taste of grace and mercy if we will allow it.

I do not even need to dress properly to be taken out of the fire.  I can be rescued just as I am.  I need to allow it.  I need to realize that I cannot make it happen but that I must let it happen.  I am helpless to do it on my own.  That is why it is by grace, through faith that I am saved.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."  ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)