Chaplain Ron’s Blog – Temperance

Ron Ross, Chaplain for Green Bay Metro Fire and Rescue defines the point of the Maltese Cross representing Temperance. This organization was born out of his own tragedy and a desire to act on the letter to the Romans chapter 13 that admonishes the church to be aware that our military and public servants are used by God for his sake and the sake of the citizens they serve. Some may be called to support this endeavor in prayer and treasure to make our communities a better place.

ForSaving.Org – Justice

 

This is the third in Chaplain Ross’ Blog Series on the Maltese Cross. So Far we have covered that the four points represent Faith and Courage, now we come to what Justice is all about…

I don’t feel good…

Wow, I know a bit how he feels… We lost our son in March 2011… and grief is also a teenage girl… (no offense to teenage girls)

I know many firefighters also go through difficult sings of post traumatic stress!

God protection to you soldier! and too all going through this…

 

I don’t feel good….

Justice For All…

As I’ve mentioned in my www.ForSaving.Org blog, the Maltese Cross is the symbol of the Fire and Rescue Service around the world today. This historic tradition of the Maltese Cross defines those bearing this sign as representing four virtues; Faith (sometimes defined as wisdom), Fortitude, Justice, and temperance.

 

The vow of a Knight of Hospitallers was as follows; http://www.knightshospitallers.org/vows) “Upon the True Faith of a Christian, may God witness that I hereby vow and dedicate myself as a servant of Christ and the Poor, the first qualification of a True Knight.

I promise to be faithful and loyal to Christ and to be guided by the ideals of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem: to do everything in my power to contribute to its Glory, Protection, Prosperity, Support and Utility: to combat everything prejudicial to its well-being: never to act contrary to its Dignity, but to conduct myself always as a true Knight of Christ: a good Christian and a person of Honour.

Believing that Christ will grant me a special token of his favour, I therefore, in all Humility, Charity, and Respect agree to join with every sincere and Godly Christian of whatever Church, to bring about by prayer and deed the salvation of the Christian World by helping to promote a lasting Christian Unity.

I will adorn my Knighthood with true Charity, the mother and solid foundation of all virtues.

I will wear on my person the Christian Maltese Cross of eight points, to constantly remind me of my religious vow of always bearing in my heart the Cross of Jesus Christ, adorned with the virtues that attend it.

So help me God.”

 

As defined in the first paragraph of the vow, being “a servant of Christ and the poor” has much to do with the defining of the ideal of Justice. 

 

Justice must be a difficult word to define. Just try to understand any of the definitions on www.dictionary.com.  didn’t we learn in school that you can’t define a word with the word?  Many would link justice to the criminal justice system or to law enforcement, but thinking in those terms limits the understanding of justice. Justice is best defined as “the opportunity for things to be the way they ought to be” This is why we have laws and why those laws have to be enforced. Law enforcement, criminal justice, and the penal system exist so that everyone else can have justice. 

 

This means the idea of justice is more foundational than you may have thought.  Justice is not so much an action but a value out of which actions are motivated. Values are innate or internal and poor values or the lack of values cause people to behave in ways that infringe on others lives leaving them a lack of justice. Justice says people of all kinds are the most valuable assets on the planet and therefore should be treated as such. The bad character trait of greed (to name one of a whole list of negative traits) precipitates the devaluing of those with less power… younger, weaker, poorer, slower, and even “station in life” (meaning the generational pattern of your family).

 

So, what does this mean for fire and paramedic professionals?  It means when faulty wiring causes a building to catch fire that they run into that building to save those who are inside. Why, because those people should have the chance to live out their life!  When someone runs a red light and careens into another vehicle full of people who were just minding their own business, EMS arrive on the scene and engage all their training and skills to pull the injured from danger and like the knights of hospitallers of old, transport them quickly and safely to the ER.

 

One of roles I perform as a Chaplain involves helping EMS who were a part of an incident that seemed unjust from every angle, to work through post traumatic stress that comes with being a part of such an incident.  Where’s the justice in a child’s life being swept away too soon, or a person whose life is forever changed from the moment a that child ventured into the street to follow their ball.  It’s past finding out for sure. (Romans 11:33)

 

Fire and EMS serve uniquely among civil servants. When the call comes through they have to set aside all opinions as to whether the individuals on the call are on the right side of justice.  Whether they were the object of someone else’s infraction of the law, or the injured is the one that is on the wrong side of the law the focus of the caregivers is exactly that… “Care”… In fact, unconditional care. Just like those knights taking their original vow, (I hereby vow and dedicate myself as a servant of Christ and the Poor, the first qualification of a True Knight.) fire and EMS knights of today must consider those who are unable to help themselves as being those represented as “poor”.  The original meaning of “poor” had more to do with the inability to save themselves than it had to do with money. To be used on the behalf of Justice is to be used by God.  God didn’t reach down to us because we deserve it. The Bible says “all haves sinned and come short of the glory of God”, therefore at one time or another, we will all need saving.

 

This value of justice is a key motivator for those caught daily between the battle and the place of healing, between moments of hopelessness and a moment of hope, between literally life… and death.  Although no one can bring about justice but God, understanding one’s ability to participate in the process can bring great fulfillment to present day Hospitallers.

Chaplain’s Blog – 2 “Faith”

Ron Ross, Chaplain for Green Bay Metro Fire and Rescue defines the point of the Maltese Cross representing Faith. This organization was born out of his own tragedy and a desire to act on the letter to the Romans chapter 13 that admonishes the church to be aware that our military and public servants are used by God for his sake and the sake of the citizens they serve. Some may be called to support this endeavor in prayer and treasure to make our communities a better place.

Chaplains Blog – Intro

Chaplain Ron’s talks about the events leading up to the launch of a Chaplain Program in the Green Bay Metro Fire and Rescue.

The History of the Maltese Cross

..also know as the Knights of Saint John, the name of the hospital they brought people to.

 

Often when I watch the news I’m disgusted with how negative it is!  How many times have you said, “only bad things make it on the news”! Lately though, it’s understandable that the focus has been on the atrocities in our nation. Just last year the horrific mass murder at a movie theater in Colorado last July, another at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin in August, another at a manufacturer in Minneapolis in September—and then the unthinkable nightmare at a Connecticut elementary school in December.  At the time of the writing of this post we’ve just gone through a terrorist attack in Boston and the tragic explosion in a fertilizer plant in Texas. One of the common experiences of all these terrible incidents is the flow of first responders into the scene while citizens flee away from the scene.

It’s not that surprising that loved ones of those in tradgedy run toward the danger. The age old writing says, 

“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—”

(Romans 5:7 ESV)

But these “first responders” make it their career to run toward danger and save those in it not knowing if the people are good people or not.  Maybe they do what they do for money?  If you knew the details, you’d know that cant be true!  What then motivates this?  The thrill and adrenal rush around the tasks in the job? Again, not worth it!

Like I mention on my website http://www.ForSaving.Org the history of the Fire?EMS comes out of the Crusades and knights (Hospitallers) whose job was to bring people from the burning front lines to the protected area further back from danger. The Maltese cross was the symbol that represented these knights. The four points of the cross were likely defined out of the actions of the knights.

Historically the four stems of the cross represented Faith, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude.  Let’s take a look at the meanings of these four words.

Faith in it’s most foundational sense is simply belief.  For the firefighter and Paramedic the belief is in the value of human life. Present day hospitallers believe people are worth saving and worth the years of training and the danger that Firefigher/EMS put themselves in. 

 Innocent, defenseless, and injured people cannot stand up for or defend themselves. People who practice justice understand that someone has to step into that role of defending or saving others. This motivation is a timeless and noble tradition in those who act on others behalf.

 Temperance is more than just self-control. It is the willingness to give measured strength in a way that will bring about the best outcome.  Firefighers/EMS continually have to practice this quality by being willing to give of themselves to the degree that is necessary with the restraint or aggression required to accomplish the task.

Over time we sometimes slide from why we do an action or think the way we do, to just acting and thinking… not knowing… even caring why.  It’s good to remember why we originally were motivated in this direction and consider if we’re still on track with our motivation.

 In my blog, I want to focus on the issues around the characterological reasons for doing things, versus doing things because of what it might get you. Simply put, the war between “being” and “doing”.  It’s one thing to do a heroic act and another to be a hero.  Tune in as I try to figure out the difference!

 

Chaplain Ron