Just
this morning I read of a retired RCMP officer from Edmonton who committed
suicide. He had been a First Responder to the horrific beheading that had taken
place on a Greyhound bus in 2008, and had never fully recovered from the
trauma. This news story led to another where I discovered that there have been
13 First Responders who have taken their own lives in the past 10 weeks.
These
stories give us concern for how all of our emergency personnel are handling the
trauma and tragedy they have witnessed in their line of duty. It is easy to
forget that police officers, paramedics, firefighters, dispatchers, prison
staff, ER doctors and nurses, all have an intensified view of the troubles and
heartaches of our communities. The professional nature of their work also makes
it too easy for them to hide how they are really doing.
This
shocking number of suicides shows that it is very difficult to know when someone
has “had enough”, and cannot live with the nightmares any longer. It isn’t only
about whether enough help is available, but also whether people know they can
admit a need, and ask for the help that is provided.
What
stood out to me in these stories is that there are two things people are
facing. One is the hidden effects of trauma, often identified as Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD). The other is the accompanying hopelessness of the
unrelenting nightmares and feelings the traumatic experiences have left behind.
While
there are many helps available if we can get people connected to them, I want
to speak for a help that is available more readily than any others. In fact,
there is a help available that so specifically addresses the overwhelming
nature of the trauma, and also the unrelenting hopelessness that surrounds
these experiences, that everyone must know it is available to all.
The
God who created us to live in the joy and safety of love relationship with him,
has also done something about the consequences of us choosing to do otherwise.
Life is traumatic and hopeless because we grow up in a world that experiences
disconnect from our Creator, and the Savior who came to fix what we have
broken.
God
sent his Son into our world as the ultimate First Responder. Jesus came to save
us from all the problems we have created through our preference for sin, and
our rejection of God’s place in our world. Through Jesus, God holds out a
promise to anyone who will come to him, no matter how traumatized we have
become.
God’s
promise is described like this: “He heals
the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”.[1] Brokenhearted
includes our part in our condition, that we have hurt ourselves through our
sin. It also includes the world’s part in our condition, that many people and
experiences have done a number on us. Either way, we need God’s help to get
better.
The
fulfillment of God’s promise is presented to us in person. Jesus came with the
invitation to experience the healing and comforting God provides. He still
speaks today through these words, “Come
to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.[2] Jesus
came to us because we labor to deal with what is wrong with us. We feel heavily
burdened with sin and its consequences. He has done something that will give
the ultimate rest to the human soul. We now must come to him.
These
suicides have stirred up discussion and planning for how to connect the
traumatized service members to adequate mental health support. We regularly hear
of veterans of military activity experiencing difficulties handling the trauma
they have witnessed, or experienced, and also having trouble getting the help
they need. People working together to provide support is much needed, and a
significant component of human beings helping one another.
My
contention is that, along with whatever other help is provided, and whatever the
difficulties in helping enough people enough of the time, there is a Helper who
is constantly available to everyone who comes to him. He has dealt with the
curse and consequences of sin. He has defeated the source of all the murders,
abuses, wars, and crimes that traumatize the human race. He has effected a cure
for the effects of sin that leave us wounded, broken, and hopeless. He invites
all of us to face the trauma we have experienced, and come to Jesus for the
healing that meets the needs of all who receive it.
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me
and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the
miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our
God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the
Lord.”[3]
© 2014 Monte Vigh ~
Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise
noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway
Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)
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