I had the strength of my faith, the support of my brother and sister chaplains, and, in a funny way, the support of the staff-- pediatrics people are special. We grieved together.
I've been a cop. I know some cops. Damn few of them have the education, the background, the support teams that I had.
When you go to seminary, when you enter chaplaincy training, you go in with the "movie" that you're the poor sucker who shows up when everything else has gone tits-up and the worst has already happened. Once an airliner crashed at the local airport -- only one survivor. Whom do they call? Chaplain. I'm on my way up to the NICU and I get flagged down by the ER people. They have a guy who just croaked. They don't know what to do. Like I do? Croaking stinks! It's not exactly what God had in mind.
I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the cops in Newtown maybe ran movies of, maybe, if they got REAL lucky, stopping a bank robbery or a rape. I bet few of them ever thought of preparing themselves emotionally and spiritually for a massacre of children.
I'll tell you another thing. Whatever people's theology of ministry is, when the compost hits the air-conditioner, the chaplain is there as God's representative. So when a kid I really loved, of parents I really loved, after spending most of her short life in the hospital, is discharged, and then dies of unknown causes, guess who the parents are angry at?
But while that hurt unbelievably, at least I had been briefed. I was ready to take fire.
My heart goes out to the Newtown cops. I bet they were completely unprepared for this. I bet we see some broken marriages, maybe even some suicides down the road for these LEOs.
Until you personally have messed with a bunch of dead children, please forgive me if I come into the dialogue thinking that you might not have a clue.
Amen, sir! Retired NYPD here. Trust me, if you can go through something like those officers went through and it doesn’t affect you, there’s something wrong with you. Not everyone has faith or a strong family or loved ones to help them through these things. On the opposite side of the coin, there are still way too many law enforcement agencies that say one thing, but do another, when it comes to seeking help. Contrary to what is said, it goes in your file and is considered when you go for special assignments. Pray for these officers. That’s a small town and they more than likely knew some of the victims.
Good post, Mad.
Why can’t people consider the context? Consider the shattering of their “normalcy bias”?
Our entire world is crumbling around us, our government is corrupt, our constitution is being shredded, and we go on watching football, right?
It is only going to get worse, and it breaks this aged heart, who is grieving for everyone in Newtown, and everyone else in the USA who is struggling with seeing our nation destroyed by fools and knaves.
In case some of you didn’t notice, the American dream died in Newtown.
The nonsense going on in the media - the “reaction” of the MSM & liberal land is just the final nail in our national coffin. The “meme”is that we should surrender all our guns.
Do they really think we are that dumb?
Complex systems, and complex societies eventually self-destruct. We are witnessing our own destruction in slow motion.
And, I am very close to someone (crisis expert) called in on an emergency basis - to counsel the first responders and the families.
I think this person may have overwhelmed by the depth of the trauma and loss, so I am praying for my friend, as I am for all in Newtown, and the rest of us.
We desperately need God, so join me in prayer for our tattered shred of a nation.
Well said, sir. I believe they should take all the time they need and all the help they can get. And if some decide to change careers, I’m for helping with that, too. I’ve not stood in their shoes, nor yours. Thank you for choosing the path you have, I’m sure you have helped many.
And I’m sure those officers and support personnel have helped many along their way. They need help, they should get it.