People

Have spent much of this week, dealing with a problem with a couple of my firefighters, it is a personal matter, some of which I can do nothing about, nor should I.  But when it effects the other members of the department, and when I have local businessmen asking me to stop by and visit with them, and they ask what the H is going on down there, it now becomes my problem.  Long story short, member A is having martial problems and his spouse files for divorce, member B, moves in with member A's estranged wife and now member A is thinking he should quit cause he can't work with member B.  These two guys were best friends 8 weeks ago.  This is the stuff of Jerry Springer.  Have thought long and hard about what can be done legally, and also what should be done to keep a sense at least of unity in the department and tried and save our good name in the community.  Had this problem a few years ago and it took about three years for the wounds to heal.  This one could take longer, and the worst part is I think I could lose not just the two people involved, but also several other members who have had enough of the crap like this.  I for one, think retiring is starting to look better.   Beside, it cold out now and who wants to go on a call in this weather.

Year end numbers.

Well, starting to run the year end numbers and they do not look good.  We had about the same number of calls in 2010 as we did in 2009.  Response from members dropped almost one firefighter.  For the major stuff, we averaged 8.6 which is one less then last  year.  For all calls, we dropped down to 6.5 firefighters per call also down a little more then one firefighter.  I don't think that the members are not responding if they are able, but do know that the activiated fire alarm calls have a lot of them going less then full speed, hoping some one gets on scene quickly and tells them it is a false trip. Can't hardly blame them, the local hospital has given us seven of those in 2010, and all but one came between 2300 and 0600. Even I don't want to leave a warm bed for those kind of calls.  The year dawns with some other personnal problems.  May lose a couple of guys with personal problems, and have another who seems to attract trouble with every turn.  Not much I can do about their personal problems, unless they affect their performance on the job.  Trying to get some planning done early this year and seem to be running into a lot of roadblocks.  Some from people who don't follow up on their jobs, and some from myself from a lack of motivation.  Find myself working for a while and then going off on a rabbit trail that has nothing to do with what I was doing.  Full time job is going okay, but have a lot of pressure from demanding people, some who think they are more important then anyone else. Sometimes I dream of just telling them off, walking out the door and never coming back.  But I won't as if would make it hard for those who will follow after me.  Time to call it a day,  hope the tones don't go tonight, it COLD and I have an early morning appointment.  But will bring the boots and pants in just in case.  Seldom get a call when I'm really prepared.

New Year

As I start a new year, I find myself at a crossroads of sort, I have just a few years to work at my present job, and then I need to find something to do, I can't find retirement in the Bible, my heart for the last few years has  been drawn to Africa, why I don't know.  What I do know is that for most of my life I have lived it for today.  Now, I wonder what will be said about my life when it is over.  What have Idone that amounts to something for eternity.   I see my children and grandchildren for the most part getting wrapped up in getting stuff.  We have the latest gadget, toy or electronic whatever,  and as I look at that  I see, what you pay for that every month would support an african pastor for a month.  My wife and I spent last Thursday evening with a awesome ( I know a very over used word) young lady who is a missionary to Zambia.  I found out about her from a letter she sent to our church.  For some reason I put it aside and keep going back to it. I e-mailed her and a few e-mails later, we had dinner with her.  She will be coming to our church in the fall, and I hope she brings her fiancce with her,  from what we hear and saw they will be a dynamic couple for the Lord.  They excite me, and at the same time make me wonder if I have for the most part wasted my life.   Have I turned a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit for so long that I have missed my chance.