Eric Littleton — First response to first responders

If you don’t, then this may not make sense. It may seem like hocus-pocus, make-believe, getting old person kind of rhetoric.

It isn’t.

One of the countless lessons learned in the recent pandemic is the power of thought. The power of directed thought. The power of undirected thought.

The prison of no thought.

Meditation, or the more current nomenclature of mindfulness, has found a new energy and following. Several apps are available with music, spoken voices and visual simulations.

These are effective and powerful. Hopefully for the good of those who use them.

For those who claim the Christian faith, meditation has been a neglected topic. Not many big concerts, events, seminars, sermons draw crowds on meditation.

Nevertheless, it is found in the Scriptures (Old and New Testament) from the Psalmist to the Apostle Paul. It is important. It is extremely vital to a walk of faith.

But — it isn’t prayer.

As a physician, prayer is often a topic with a patient. Their comments are profoundly personal.

It is like swimming. Some glide effortlessly in prayer like an Olympic swimmer. Some will take a few strokes, realize what they have done, and jump out of the pool — thinking that is enough swimming for this year.

“I swam!” will be the social media splash.

Some will stand on the side of the pool and claim swimming isn’t real and does no good. All the while the true swimmers glide through the water.

But it is real. Very real. I have learned that even more deeply the past six months.

It is the place to ponder pain. Decisions. Burdens. Joys. Spiritual and emotional battles. Heartbreak. Anger.

Depths of the soul that cannot speak. It is the place to listen.

And it is the place to intercede. Intercessory prayer. Praying for others.

We need that. Desperately. This world seemingly has had evil and death unleashed to run amok in every corner, with every means, at every turn.

Pandemic. War. Earthquakes. Storms. Social chaos. Brutal unkindness.

And what do you, a person who claims prayer and faith, do?

Worry? Watch angry people talk about angry people on TV? Social media labyrinthian luring?

Consider your ways. Consider your thoughts.

It is, in a world where so much is out of our control, still yours to own.

Meditation, again, for those who claim a Christian faith, should be focused on those things you believe. The core.

“I don’t know what to meditate on” — well, there’s this book called the Bible. It holds the truth of your faith. Ponder the first chapter of Psalms for a bit of direction.

It is far more interesting and life changing than YouTube. If you don’t believe that, then you have some deeper questions you need to earnestly ask yourself.

But prayer. How is that in your life? Are you heartbroken? Do you see things and think “what next?”

What about when you hear things? Sirens, for instance.

The sirens in the night will pierce the darkness of a bedroom and cause us all to ponder. We do a mental roll call of who is in the house and who isn’t. Where are they? Are they in the direction of the sirens?

How many sirens? One? An ambulance. Two? Three? A swarm?

You’ve heard them. The cascading crescendo of siren after siren proclaiming to the public there is something direly wrong.

Fire. Accident. Injury. Possibly a person living their life with no illness has their entire world changed. Or ended.

Our police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel are the ones in those vehicles rushing to lend aid. Crucial help in the first moments.

Tools. Equipment. Water. Medicine. Knowledge. Training.

Emotions.

These individuals serve our community and see the worst there is for a human body to experience. Car wrecks can do unspeakable things to flesh and blood. The mind can make choices that the body has to pay.

Someone has to physically — not just see it on a screen — clean that up.

These are the people who intentionally went into homes early in the pandemic when we didn’t know what we were dealing with (as if we do now) and took upon themselves the risk of their own wellbeing.

They serve us. Some for decades.

Accidents. Homicides. Suicides. Child Abuse. Assault.

And then they go home and try to act normal. Try to not worry about their own kids on the road. Try to not worry about a spouse who tries to understand, but can’t, the dangers this world holds.

And then they do it again the next day. And the next.

People do not get rich and look like movie stars on social media serving as first responders. They serve their community with gifts and talents unique to their trade. They have flaws. We have flaws.

But we need to serve them.

Whether you are awakened at night, or in traffic, and hear a siren — remember that is a person trying to help another soul. Somewhere someone isn’t doing well. Maybe they caused it, maybe they didn’t, but someone isn’t well.

If you are a person who claims to believe in prayer, then consider immediately interceding for that responder.

Their wisdom. Their insight. Their emotional well being. Their physical health.

If you are not a person who believes in prayer or faith, then please consider some act of kindness. They serve us all.

We sit comfortably at home and see the tragedies of the world on our screens.

It stares them in the face.

We need to remember that. And them.

Eric J. Littleton, M.D. (@DrEricLittleton) is a musician and family physician in Sevierville, TN.