September 11, 2001 was a day that most of us will never forget. It was a day similar to the day JFK was assassinated when I was only 9 years old. On 9/11 I was not home with my wife and three children or on my way to work. I was was in Blantyre, Malawi thousands of miles away. I heard the news on BBC radio just after a church service held under a huge tent with about 3000 participants that had come from several miles away. They had come to listen to a group of Christian leaders speak but on this particular day it had been a man from the Congo that had spoken. The interesting thing is that I usually forget what someone preaches within a few days and sometimes even hours. I know that is a terrible thing to admit, being a former pastor. I remember this sermon even today because it was given as planes were crashing into buildings in NYC.
I became a volunteer chaplain with the Toronto Police a few months after 9/11. Many young men and women became cops and fire fighters and paramedics after 9/11 and as I hear their stories, many did so because of 9/11. It touched many lives but the impact is still being felt not only for families that lost loved ones but for each of us who witnessed the tragic events of that day.
The first police chaplain conference I attended was about a year after 9/11. Our guest speaker was the senior chaplain with the Spokane Police. He had many stories to tell that week because he had been called to NYC in the days following 9/11. He was at Ground Zero for several days trying to bring comfort to first responders and the soldiers that now guarded the surrounding area. He heard stories that were unbearable to listen to, let alone live through. He shared many with us police chaplains and it has stayed with me to this day. Again, I wasn't there so I can only imagine how the trauma of that day affected so many first responders.
So here we were, about 50 police chaplains from across Canada and the US listening to stories and slowly understanding what it meant to stand with those who have suffered trauma. On one of the evenings an outing had been planned by the host police chaplain: we were going to a pub for drinks. Only problem was that our guest and the president of the International Police Chaplains didn't drink so I made a suggestion to them. I knew of a good movie that had come out recently that I had already seen with my wife. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a movie they hadn't even heard of but they were willing to do anything instead of going to a pub. It was a great night with too much laughter, if that is possible, and many a thank you for the remainder of the week. It was also good for all 3 of us after sitting all day listening to the events of 9/11 and the aftermath.
I tell this story because trauma or as we call it today, PTSD, is very real. For 3 men and especially someone who was at Ground Zero, we needed a distraction and laughter was an excellent one. Yet today temporary distractions are not the answer for those suffering from PTSD. We would all say that nothing can be as bad as 9/11 but is that really true? Today many first responders face traumatic events in their regular jobs that none of us ever have to face. Then just to pile on, the media and special interest groups attack cops for doing their jobs. The pressure is enormous and for some it can bring them to a breaking point.
As a Christian chaplain I realize that many first responders fear us as much as the trauma (maybe a slight exaggeration). Usually a chaplain is simply there to listen and offer solutions that don't include a preach or prayer. That may come at some point but I believe God is interested in restoring people who have suffered trauma. That may come in various forms including psychiatrists and yoga instructors. The truth is, we need to be there for those who are crying out for help. On 9/11 we all experienced some of that but for most of us our feet were never on the ground. First Responders were running to the danger while everyone else was running away from it. That is not just a catchy phrase: it is the truth.
