The Fourth Emergency Service

Do you realise that there is a fourth emergency service?

I didn’t

Until yesterday

When I was put right by my eight year old daughter Dani.

Now Dani is obsessed with the sound of a siren

It only takes the distant echo of a police or ambulance alarm to get Dani rushing to the nearest window in the expectation of seeing a vehicle with flashing lights.

The other morning

Two ambulances thundered past our house

Setting the street ablaze with a tornado of sound and light.

She ran down the stairs

Opened the curtains

Then dashed out the front door

And watched them disappear into the distance

“Dad, come on let’s see what’s happened, I bet there’s an accident.”

Yesterday as I was driving us home she informed me,

“Dad, we should always let emergency cars out, if they want!”

“Okay,” I replied.

“We should let out,

Police,

Ambulances,

Fire Engines,

And Taxis.”

I almost crashed, Taxis!!

“Taxis, why taxis”

She sighed

Obviously at my ignorance

“Well, taxis might be carrying a Pop Star and the Pop star might be late for a show. And there might be people waiting for the show to start and they might get upset. So we should always let them out so the Pop star isn’t late and the people aren’t upset.”

I looked at her

And smiled

“Okay Dad!”

“Okay darling.”

There you are the fourth emergency service is taxis taking Pop stars to shows.

When disaster strikes

And the sirens start

Where do I run?

Do I run to my own efforts?

My own strength

My fail safe methods for dealing with problems

My own ability

My knowledge

Or do I run to God

Listen to the Holy Spirit inside of me

Pray

Trust

Everything I need God has provided through Christ

I just have to learn to turn to him

And all he has made available

It’s a journey

A process

Little by little

Step by step.