Grace and Salt

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." -Colossians 4:6

Our mothers taught us a very important lesson very early on in our lives. My mom still has to repeat it to me often: "If you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything at all." For many of us first responders, that would mean we would be silent most if not all of the time. Obviously like Colonel Sanders so eloquently put it in Water Boy, "Momma is wrong again." We should absolutely speak up to correct lies, wrongdoings, and injustices. Your point of view matters. We have the right to share our opinion on any topic any where. That is freedom protected in the First Amendment. 

We have an ongoing crisis of people not being able to have conversations with dissenting opinions anymore. So many conversations today are fueled by emotions and personal attacks. If you don't think, vote, and "feel" like me, then you are inferior and the enemy. I don't know where we went wrong, but this has to stop.

Food companies have long learned that the combination of sweet and salty will keep people eating more. The same can be said for sweet and spicy. The juxtaposition of these flavors often leads me to eat a whole bag of trail mix or kettle corn when I intended to just eat "some." When our words are "gracious" and "seasoned with salt," people are willing to hear more of them. In order for us obey God's command, we need to pray before and during any conversation. We should view each other not as opponents, but as equals. We must slow down and choose our words wisely- words that build up not tear down. We must not let our emotions steer any conversation. Just because we have the right to say something, doesn't mean we should. We should seek to listen for understanding, and we should find and build off of common ground. It is my experience that many of us want the same things in life. We just have differing methods on how to get there. When this isn't enough, we must agree to disagree. 

 My hope and prayer is that civility will be restored to our relationships and to this world. God can do it when we His people follow His plan for our speech. 

May the LORD bless you and keep you!

Senior Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

Own It and Learn

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly." -Proverbs 26:11

Every year for the past 8 years, Facebook and wonderful firefighter brothers remind me of this most ridiculous blunder. It had been another busy day saving lives(or maybe disregards) on Squad 18. We stopped for gas at the Valero on 45 and Dumble, which was customary. We went inside, while the pump did its thing, for caffeine and snackage. Our stay was extended as the other guy in the photo was looking at maps and planning for his trip to Wisconsin or somewhere. Whatever the case, I hopped in the war wagon, put her in drive and left. Just as soon as we started to move, we all heard a loud POP. I put her in park and looked at my now infamous blunder. Cameras were out immediately and here we are today. 

I have yet to make that mistake again. I might actually be just a little paranoid. I was a fool for doing it the first time. I'd be labeled far worse for a second. For the longest time I tried to blame the mistake on the distractions of the moment and busyness of the day, but the truth is, I did it all by myself and must live with the consequences of annual ridicule.

I wonder what mistakes in life we continue repeating? What other sins are out there that we continue to run to instead of from. What excuses do we make to cover our tracks. Who/what are we blaming other than ourselves? How often do we who are brave, strong, professional, educated, forgiven, and compassionate play the part of a fool?

May we learn from our mistakes and take the proper actions to never repeat them again. May we turn from sin and run towards Christ. May we own our stuff and properly place blame where it belongs. Let us grow in maturity, faith, and humility.

-Be Blessed

Senior Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain