OPERATION SAFETY 91

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy for Fire Fighter Paramedic Chad Lowery and the other four individuals who were injured yesterday in Oakland. My prayers go out to Lowery and the others sending God’s love, mercy, grace, and peace to them and their families. All Fire fighters, EMS, and Law Enforcement Officers are constantly in our prayers, in our thoughts, and on our minds. I thank the members of the board of Operation Safety 91 for their constant and unceasing effort to strengthen and comfort all of our first responders. When one of our very own is in pain, we all cry. As a part of my tears for this tragic incident I am dedicating this week’s Quote of the Week to begin the healing process. Let’s take a moment today to recognize and pray love and protection around all of those who place the safety and care of others above their own.

Chaplain Fred - Health Central, Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office

Why Are We In Such A Hurry?

Google says that nearly 21 million have asked the very question that I am asking myself this morning. Of the few results that I sampled, most talked about speeding and reckless driving, that leads to a halt in rush hour traffic. Why are we risking our lives to be first to a traffic jam? An even better question is: Why are we putting everyone else’s lives in danger to be that first car in creeping traffic? Of greater concern is that this behavior is only a symptom of the more serious problem. We are living our lives at high speed. Life’s collisions and traffic jams have just as serious consequences as when we are in vehicular traffic… often worse.

Yesterday, an Orange County Fire Fighter Paramedic and four others were critically injured when an impatient driver decided not to slow down and use caution, drove around a parked fire truck, and into these five pedestrians who were in the process of rendering aid at an incident scene.

Today I would like everyone to stop, take a deep breath, and evaluate your lives. Are you moving so fast through life that others aren’t noticing you and you are not noticing them? Are you moving so fast that you can’t see the damage in your wake? What are your stress level, your blood pressure, and your emotional status? Most importantly what is your “full steam ahead” lifestyle doing to your relationships?

Beginning now is a good time to change. Besides its beauty, a rose has a delightful fragrance. But, you have to be stationary long enough to take in that aroma. People and relationships hold a fragrance, at least metaphorically, that you may enjoy. So bring life’s blur into focus and enjoy both the beauty and fragrance of life.

“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast "

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (Act II, Scene III)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Chaplain Fred D. Wilcoxson PhD, PC, BCCC
Supervisor of Pastoral Care
Health Central
10,000 West Colonial Dr.
Ocoee, Florida 34761
407-296-1815
http://www.wccpe.org/
fred.wilcoxson@healthcentral.org
Board Certified Pastoral Counselor and Clinical Chaplain by the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy
American Association of Christian Counselors certified Stress & Trauma Care (with Military application)