Hard Hit
Getting hit hard hurts! Whether it is in sports, a surprise business downturn, the dissolution of a significant relationship or an unexpected tragedy, it causes pain!
Around 8:30 a.m. last Thursday, I was contacted by a shift leader of an emergency responder agency. He and his crew were on the scene of a young person’s unexpected death. Even though a serious medical condition existed, nothing could have prepared the parents for such a sudden loss.
The suffering parents were in the home and needed a chaplain present. During my drive there, I called Braveheart Chaplain, Chris Messenger, to see if he wanted to assist me while gaining more experience. He said that he would.
Upon arriving, I saw Chris standing in the front yard talking to a couple of responders. The shift leader briefed me while one of the parents walked by on his way back to the house. I then joined Chris and the police and we made our way into the house. We cautiously walked towards the bedroom where the grief stricken parents were weeping over their teen. This is one of the hardest hits a parent can ever receive.
Chris and I sat in the room as a comforting presence to the mom and dad. We listened, answered brief questions, silently prayed, and stood alongside of law enforcement officers in support of them. This portion represented the bulk of our time on scene.
After a while, the coroner arrived and joined our group who were nearby while the parents wrestled with their child’s death. At the parent’s request, we left them alone to say goodbye to their child.
While we waited in the living room, I received a second call from the same shift leader who asked if I could join his crew on yet another scene. I left Chris with the sorrowful parents and drove less than ten minutes to a home where a younger adult had taken his own life. He had been found by a parent. I approached a vehicle where the mother and step parent were, along with an officer. I was introduced to another set of shocked parents who had been hit in one of most extreme ways possible.
I offer consolation and am present with them. As is often repeated, a chaplain’s role is to be present to offer comfort, give family members the opportunity to talk about their loved one, offer guidance, and assist with some aspect of contacting others. While I have been on both types of scenes untold times over the past fifteen years, the emotional demand of standing alongside of suffering parents is once again felt.
While these are very difficult scenarios to join in, I am reminded that the Lord has sent Braveheart chaplains to help those who have been impacted in a severe way.
As expected, Chris takes great care of the parents he is assisting and is currently providing follow up to them and to responders.
Due to the Lord’s leadership, Chris is in the process of raising funds so that he can become a part-time paid chaplain with Braveheart. His increased involvement will be so welcomed as the demands for chaplains continues to expand. More information can be found at ChaplainChrisMessenger.com.
