A Vacation To Remember

Chaplain’s Notes/////Ralph Thompson, Durham County EMS Chaplain

It was the last week of September. We were on vacation. The condo was oceanfront. The weather was perfect. My family was excited.

I was sick.

I won’t bore you with the details of my illness—but I can tell you that there is no place like home when you are sick.

A room with an oceanfront view is no comfort when all you want is that old sofa in your own den.

On the second day my wife said, “Let’s go home. You will be more comfortable there.”

“No,” was my response.

“Why not?” she asked.

My answer began to ramble at that point. My stubborn self would not leave because we had paid in advance. I’m way too much of a tightwad to leave a paid up condo unused.

My rational self would not leave because I knew that I would feel just as sick at home. Even though I would be more comfortable at home—my wife and son were very comfortable where they were.

The verdict? We stayed right up till check out time on the last day. I figured if star athletes perform in spite of the pain then I could to.

As a husband and a father, I had duties and responsibilities to my wife and son. I promised them a vacation. I was going to deliver. Even if it killed me.

I survived and now we have another goofy expedition to laugh about in the years to come.

There was one prevailing principle that I remembered as I was curled up in the bed, in pain, moaning, crying and feeling sorry for myself.

“It’s not about me.”

That’s it. “It’s not about me”. That statement is the opening line in a book by Rick Warren titled, “The Purpose Driven Life”.

Even though Rick uses “it’s not about me” to open his book, it is not an original thought of his.

As a matter of fact “it’s not about me” was a statement that I had used for years before Rick Warren ever wrote his book.

Did Rick Warren steal my thought and use it to write a best selling book? Did he forget to include me in the credits? Did I even get a footnote?

Actually, Rick learned the “it’s not about me” idea from the same source that I did. The Bible.

We were able to salvage some good times from our vacation. We were able to get out on the beach a few times and we ate out every night.

True, it could have been better—but we made the best of the week and were still able to spend some valuable time together as a family—even if daddy was not feeling well.

My wife is a champion at “It’s not about me.” That makes it easier for me to do the same.

When we got married over 20 years ago, we promised to serve each other. The only way to do that is to think more of the other person than you do yourself. Put the other person’s needs ahead of yours.

Your personal pride and selfishness are the natural enemies to serving another person. It is difficult to be a servant to someone who should be serving you. It is tough to give up a good night of sleep to run a frivolous call.

Why do you do that? “It’s not about you”.

When you are a rookie and gung ho about EMS, you relish the calls. You serve with gusto and enthusiasm. All calls are good.

Some folks are able to work their entire career and see the good in all calls. That person is a rare bird.

Even those with the greatest attitude will sometimes qualify calls based more on their attitude at the time rather than their call to serve others.

We have to be careful to not allow bitterness to creep in and affect our attitude.

No matter how frivolous the call, or how many times we have been there—it’s not about you.

It’s about the one who called for help. It’s about the family of the patient. It’s about being a servant to others when our human nature says to be selfish.

Look at these words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 25:

“Then the King will say…For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we [do this]?”

“The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

“It’s not about me” is the principle of giving of oneself for others. It is the standard that I seek to live by everyday.

Thanks for all you do. Have a great month and be safe out there as we “serve the least of these”.

Many Blessings!

Chaplain Ralph

Ralph Thompson, Durham County EMS Chaplain