By Rev. C. Wayne Childers
The Oklahoman
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma City has about 1,000 retired firefighters living in the metropolitan area. Many belong to a group called the OKC Retired Firefighters Association, and I have been their chaplain for three months.
These guys are real family in every sense of that word. They visit those in the nursing home, support the widows of those who are fallen, and assist firefighters and families when they need a boost.
Many of these guys are working as hard at supporting each other as they did in serving the public during their active days. Between golf games and fishing trips, they meet to stay in touch, sometimes for breakfast and dinner and to keep the others informed of benefit changes in the system. They have a true network.
Everyone needs a network. They need a place where they belong. They need someone who cares. They need a group with affinity and history.
Last week, I visited a retired firefighter who apparently had no family. He was in the intensive care unit at a local hospital and died the next day. I prayed with him and visited with the attending nurses. During my visit, his physician asked me if I knew any of the man's family. I did not. However, I asked the association's officers, and in about two hours, a brother and sister were found and informed of their brother's health condition.
Communication, networking, concern and advocacy are benefits of a group. Keeping in touch and having those who care about what happens to you is a gift.
The Bible is full of support groups. They were called disciples, fellowships, churches. They were where two or three gathered, and God was with them.
They were the cords that together were not easily broken. They were family, fellow laborers, co-workers and stewards. "We" is better than "I."
So, if you are part of a group like that, you are blessed. There are groups in our community available to you if you will make the effort. Don't stay alone; seek out a group for your sake and theirs. Be a groupie. A church might be a good place to start.
The Rev. C. Wayne Childers is senior pastor of South Lindsay Baptist Church and chaplain of the Oklahoma City Retired Firefighters Association.
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