FIREFIGHTER CODE

#1 – Love God

Love & serve God.  In God We Still Trust.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do,
and He will show you which path to take.
-Proverbs 3:5-6

In my life experience and beliefs, I have found that the ultimate Chief is God.  Whenever we get that out of alignment, life seems to get haywire or leads us down an empty path.  I have found that when we make God and His purpose for our life the priority then we live a fulfilled and purpose centered life.  Life isn’t always easy or fun, but God says He will never leave us or forsake us.  He says that when we go through those trials and tribulations, He will be there with us, and that no temptation or trouble has seized us that we cannot stand up under.

Whenever I find myself doing things or becoming someone I am not proud of, I find that I have let my selfish ambition or desires take priority over God or I have not included God in the plans.  I have made some big mistakes, like not taking care of my finances how God teaches us; therefore I suffered greatly in that area.  However, now that I have been following God’s purpose with my finances, it seems that all my needs are provided for and I have peace with my finances.

#2- Love Yourself

The law of his God is in his heart;
His steps will never slip.
-Psalms 37:31

Love yourself because you were created by God for a purpose.  It’s not about loving our selfish ways or loving in a selfish way.  It’s about loving our creator for creating us, and loving our purpose and honoring that calling.  Know that a light burns within us for that purpose; we find that purpose by connecting with the spirit within us.  Following that spirit and doing the right thing even when its not convenient.

Follow that light and you will do honoring things.

#3 – Love Your Family

The most important roles we play are those of husband/wife and mother/father.  Serve your family and love them with all your heart.  Honor your spouse, your parents and your siblings.

Great firefighters are those who are a hero at home.
-David J. Soler

One of the hardest kinds of hero to be and the most important is the hero at home.  What a travesty it could be if we are so focused on saving a random stranger (which is very noble) but let our children go parentless or abandoned.

Spending time with our children and and encouraging them are the best gifts we can give our children.  It’s seems so simple to do, yet for me and others it’s so challenging.  Life has so many things or distractions that are waiting to absorb our time and if we don’t prioritize, we will fall victim to this as a parent.  This is something I struggled with and I know so many that do also.  We all want to help others and build our careers and enjoy our hobbies so it’s a lot easier said then done.

However, the best relationships in our lives is with those are the closest to us.  Make your spouse and children a priority and serve them.  This will lead you into being a better firefighter and leader.

#4 – Love Your Fire Department Family

The closest thing to a real family is your fire department family.  Your life and survival could very well depend on them.  We need to care and serve each other both on the job and off the job.

We will spend a lot of time with our fire department family and some may even spend more time over the years with their fire department family than their real family.  (Consider: 40 or so hours a week over 20-30 years with the department versus 18-25 years with our children who live with us but with whom we don’t usually get to spend 40 hours a week with.)

So since we are going to spend that much time with them and be risking our lives with them, we ought to invest that time and make it count.  Encourage and support them both professionally and personally.  You maybe the closet thing they have to a family.  We are all going through things and when we can support and encourage our fire family, it makes life so much more blessed.

Also, what good would it do to help them on the fireground but break them down in the fire station?

Great firefighters and leaders build up those around them both  professionally and personally.  Those around them get better for being around those great firefighters.

#5 – Serve The World!

The world will call.  Answer their call!  When we are responding to their call, it is usually the worse day of their life. On their worse day, they are calling and depending on you. You have the ability to serve them.  They will depend on us to answer the call.  Answer the call and serve the world!

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
-John 15:13

As you may know or will find out, there is no greater feeling than helping and serving others.  It’s almost like that is what we are here on earth to do. We feel the most fulfilled when we are helping others.  In those moments, all our problems go away and we feel blessed.  So go and serve the world!

We Are Called

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, urge and encourage you
to lead a life worthy of your calling,
for you have been called by God.
-Ephesians 4:1