I've just joined the local fire department and I'm just about done with my training preparing to take my state test. One of the first things we talked about was the mission of the fire service. The first and most important mission is life safety, that is, life safety of the fire fighters and other responders.
It's not that we are not supposed to care about victims of accidents and fires, it's that we are not responsible for the situation they find themselves in. It does no one any good to have a dead firefighter and a dead victim. No one is saved. Safety is our first priority. What firefighters do is dangerous enough without people running around doing something stupid.
It hit me the other day that an effective pastor has to have the same attitude and priority. Life safety has to be the top of the list for pastors. Pastors are not responsible for the messes in people's lives, we have to take care of ourselves in order to be able to take care of others. It's a thought in process. But I like the analogy.
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