Tourism is an industry.
People displace to see sites. Curiosity drives some; ego others. While duty can motivate, tourism is also a temptation. We wander when we're supposed to be working.
Temptation is an industry.
Taste, touch and tone are for sale. Smells, sights and sentiments are available incognito or in community. Work exposes workers to temptations and takes workers places.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ~ Mt 4:1
Jesus took a tour and was tempted. Following Jesus is work.
I followed Jesus into a hospital.
Family was gathered around a pulse, no pulse; agonal breathing then silence. Doctors retrieved the pulse and respiration was restored. Back and forth...life to death to life to...
"I am the resurrection..." ~ John 11:25
'What do we do, now?' is a question families ask victim advocates. Absent care, disasters can be forms of tourism.
When are people ever exposed to an ambulance's interior, flashing lights and siren blaring? When does a century of combined medical training cycle into the same room on the same day? When do cops show up with guns blazing? Where are meal vouchers and bottomless cups of coffee available? When are drones and tracking dogs and body armor commonplace? When will a telephone keep ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing?
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." ~ Luke 9:23
Jesus was talking to a group of people who chose the work of following Him. Mention of "daily" cuts to the quick; following Jesus includes a fight against tourism some days and flight from temptation on other days.
"What do we do, now?" asked the family.
"Exactly what you've been doing. You're weeping and holding each other and breathing for one another. You're angry and confused and hearing things for the first time. Keep hugging, keep listening, keep asking questions. Keep each other. In abnormality, your abnormality is normal," I said.
Victim advocacy is a service offered by police. Calls for service expose us to new and interesting places, people and events. Temptations toward tourism lurk.
Enter Jesus.
When He taught in Luke 9 to "deny self", what He seemed to say to a follower like me was, "Remember why I'm sending you in there, pretty boy. Blowing through doors with Cool Kids can become a form of tourism. Seeing things bystanders want to see, but you are supposed to see, is possible because I'm embedding you among cops.
"Watch it, hot shot. Tourists abound. I expect you to shut up until I tell you to speak; go where I tell you to go; remain in constant prayer so you can hear Me over the sirens, wails and radios. Deny yourself.
"Take up your cross but first take a look at what a cross did to My hands, feet and side. When you think about it, I see understanding rolling over you. You know this work can kill you. What you're doing, with Me, may cost you your life. What do you think crosses are used to do?
"Uniformed professionals messed Me up. Remembering that you could be riding with them in the morning, and prosecuted by them in the afternoon, might help. You're on the road for My purposes; for what I will; for My glory. Temptations to - in place of obedience - be smart, helpful or spectacular are as old as the Tempter.
"Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Me. Today is a day you might really mess up. In prayer, You heard Me establish boundaries for your work. When cops or the community have asked you to do some things, you've told them "No," because you follow Me. Good...
"Good, but keep watching Me. Rigidity in boundary setting can easily be confused for holiness. You'll be tempted to refuse to do what today's assignment requires unless you watch me. Deny yourself and follow Me. Forget yesterday's work; stay focused on Me [in prayer] and lift today's cross with your knees. Stoop, breathe, lift and follow.
"You trust Me? On three...one, two..."
While sitting with the family, doctors informed they could visit their loved one.
During training, each advocate is encouraged to set boundaries. Child abuse may impact one worker differently than car accidents impact another. Suicides may bother an advocate; homicides another. Unless necessary, I've learned to avoid bodies.
Voyeurism is an industry.
There is no reason to stand over a person's remains unless there's a reason. Helping a funeral home move the body is a reason. Counseling a family member at risk of ruining evidence is a reason. Complying with a police request is a reason. When the doctor says it's time, going with a family because the family shot-caller says, "We're all going, right Alex?" is a reason.
We show up to serve but families decide to let us in; to share stories; to trust us to help as chaos barks.
In the room I went.
Before going, I heard Him say, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." I saw what I cannot unsee because I fixed my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He endured the cross, despised the shame and is now seated in honor at the Heavenly Father's right hand.
"How do you deal with all of this?" one of the family members asked.
"I'm a Christian. I think of the cross of Jesus, and the brutal way He died. Remembering Him helps me help you."
Tourism is an industry.
Temptation is an industry.
Trusting Jesus is work.
When lifting a cross, lift the way He tells you, on the day He tells you, just how He tells you.
Make sure you lift on three.
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