Fire House Evangelization

Volunteer FirefighterVery recently, I became a member of the local volunteer fire company in our new hometown here in Pennsylvania.  I attended my first training session last night and was fairly impressed with the skills, knowledge and welcoming nature of the men who were there and am happy to finally be living out a childhood dream to be a firefighter.  (My Grandfather Anthony was a volunteer firefighter and ever since I learned that about him, I wanted to do it too.)  But, my work is cut out for me at the fire house.

You see, at the fire house, the apparent need to be macho is very prevalent.  ‘Cultural Manliness’ in full swing.  It’s been a while since I’ve been around this sort of behavior in this sort of context, but it certainly isn’t new to me.  I played sports my entire childhood life, even up into college (FB and Rugby at BC) and it was very prevalent there, too.  The idea that the more smack I talk, or the better zinger I can dish out, or the more raunchy the joke or the more foul the language, then the more manly I am.  Obviously, if you’ve ever read this blog before, you know where I stand on this issue.  These behaviors and characteristics don’t make you more manly, in fact, they diminish a man’s ability to live TrueManhood.

So, as I look forward to getting fire calls, attending training and potentially saving property and lives, I look forward also to the sort of impact I can make in the lives of my fellow brother firefighters.  I plan to make in-roads with men individually and once a relationship is forged and I gain trust and moral authority with them, I will begin to challenge them to not act like the rest of the guys.  We are a small fire company, but have great potential due to our leadership and equipment.  This will be the true test of my ability to live the faith and set a good example.  Most of the men who were present last night did not come off at first glance as being believers, but as with every man, their core is good.  A little refinement (I continue to need LOTS of refinement) will do them some good and they in turn will do even more good than that!

I turn this around on you… where in your life are you surrounded by cultural manliness?  Are there men around you that act like this?  Maybe you’re a firefighter, athlete, military serviceman, salesman, waiter, CEO, construction worker, missionary, or some other profession… where can you make an impact and live as a TrueMan instead of a cultural man?

TrueMan up!

Comments

2 Responses to “Fire House Evangelization”
  1. Ryan Kraeger says:

    It’s like the military. I tell younger men, if you’re not willing to fight for the faith, don’t even think about the military. If you are willing to be the lone moral voice in the crowd and fight for the truth, then bring it on. You are much needed.

  2. Jose Santa-Maria says:

    First off, congratulations on joining your local vfd. I too was able to realize my dream of becoming one a few years ago. I loved every second of it. I didn’t know anyone at the time and from the get go I set my boundaries on what my views and beliefs were and they all respected that. Now I can truly say that those manly men have truly become my brothers. The fire service does have that manly bravado that is only contained and kept from hurting someone by all the training one does.

    I commend you for taking on both the challenge that is to become a firefighter as well as the challenge on taking on the cultural manliness that is the fire service. God bless!