I spent a few hours at the fire station yesterday. We have instituted a new concept in attracting potential new hires. How about allowing them to do a trial run of the agility test they will be required to pass in order to get hired? The runs don’t count. They just give those who think they might be interested a chance to try their winds. And apparently the word got out. One kid was there from Rhode Island. Another drove down from Tyler and made it just in time. Three of our guys from the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department came as well. There were plenty of guys to cheer for.
I was asked to
help out with timing the runs. It was
fascinating to see how some would absolutely nail one event but struggle
mightily at another. I think they all
learned that it’s not about those individual “excels” that expend a lot of
energy but leave you hurting at the end.
Instead it’s all about the long haul.
Fortunately slash
unfortunately, there was very little wind.
That was very good for climbing that ladder that reached into the
clouds. That was very bad when it came
to the temperature. 89 degrees with a
wind chill of 99. Plus that good ol’
Galveston humidity. It was hot.
Of the ones I had
a chance to talk to, I think they appreciated the chance to test themselves without
the added stress of the job being on the line.
They discovered what they needed to work on individually, and all of
them realized they have a long way to go in endurance. One guy even told me he decided that day to
quit smoking. Good choice, my friend.
I would count
this as a successful experiment. Now if
some of these guys and gals can just make it back for the real thing …
Psalms 103:2
says, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
Father, thank you
for watching over the guys and girls who participated yesterday. Help them as they focus on their personal
training in the days to come. And thanks
for the GFD guys who came out to help. Some
of them were even off duty. Bless
them. Amen.
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