I love being able to work downtown sometimes, the sights, the smells, the hustle and bustle, makes it a fun place to work. Downtown presents many challenges as a firefighter that are different than the suburban surrounding areas. I have worked downtown on numerous occasions. Yesterday, however, was a day where the calls seemed to represent so much of our city right now and I thought I would share some of the "secrets" of our city. I realize that most of you never get to see this "other" secret world, but it is there. I promise you. It is dark, it is ugly, it is in desperate need of our Lord Jesus and His amazing redemption.
I want you readers though to recognize that this was a normal day. It was not special. This happened yesterday, today and will happen again tomorrow all throughout this city.
Call #1. This was at 8am, right out of the chute at shift change, I had just gotten my cup of coffee, and it was still piping hot. This call was for a man in his mid 30's, in handcuffs with PD. He had been walking down the street scaring and yelling at people. He was on crystal meth. He was screaming that he can't be arrested because he is a Christian. (Yes, for real) My reply, "Start acting like Jesus then."
Call #2. Fire alarm of some sort.
Call #3. A 60 year old homeless woman with a medical complaint after getting verbally assaulted.
Call #4. Mid-afternoon, a request by PD for assistance with a woman who was in custody at the light rail station. She was too crazy that she needed a gurney to be transported to the jail because she was trying to kick out the window of the patrol car. Yes, she was handcuffed and seat belted while she did this. It was quite impressive. She was on meth as well. (Side note, a car decided to drive on the light rail track and almost run through a crowd of people.)
Call #5. 5pm, a call at a local motel for a medical complaint. Upon arrival, we found that this was not an ordinary room but a room that one of the local pimps rented out for "his" women. There were a few women that work the streets at night, getting their sleep during the day.
Call #6. Dinnertime, (dinners often are eaten cold), a 60's homeless male needed some assistance with some medical problems. No drugs, but alcohol was involved.
Call #7. Dinnertime still, A 50 year old man, (though he looked 70), needed medical help after his brother found him passed out. He had overdosed on methadone. His brother was very angry at us and the cops, because it took too long to get to him. He had cussed out the dispatchers on the phone and they told us to stage and wait until PD got there. His brother was angry that he had overdosed since he has been "clean" off the methadone for a week.
Call #8. During dishes. A medical call for a mid-aged homeless male with a medical problem.
Call #9. An elderly male had fallen and possibly broken his hip. Tragically, this house was like walking into a temple for his false god, that will not save him.
Call #10. This call was for something, but at about 10pm, I can no longer remember. Nothing stands out though.
Call #11. 1am. Trash can fire in a parking lot. Thanks to some of the young party club goers out there. At this time of the hour downtown there are lots of people out, with lots of alcohol flowing and outfits that should be outlawed. Downtown turns into a completely different place at this time of the night. Hardly recognizable to those that are only used to going there during the day.
Call #12. 7am. Fresh cup of coffee in my cup, with one sip taken. This was for a woman, sick needing medical attention. She was a lonely, elderly widow.
Well, this sums the day up.
It was a huge reminder of the need of Jesus in our city. We don't all need to relocate and travel across the world to places like Kenya. Most of us, need to stay where we are and be involved in God's work right here in this city. We need it.
