My life as the writer of the Life Journey of Hanne Jeane has been too bounded.
In all my life until few years ago, my friends, my acquantainces, my colleagues...
They were all either doctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, paramedics and any other medical related occupation. I was also, once, holding dearly to my dream of saving and helping people through the field of medicines.
And also thanks to my past as the writer of the Life Journey of Anne Song, I do know a thing or two about the military college, the army and the lifestyle which had taught me to words such as 'restricted','confidential' and 'undisclosed'.
The admiration I have towards the occupation related to these field was so high up that I may have, unconsciously in my thoughts, being rude to the other highly respect-worth occupations in this world.
Firefighter in chinese is 消防员 (xiāofáng yuán)
I came across a rescue operation of the firefighters from China.
One rescue operation leads me to few more others.
From the life-threatening mission, to the very trivial, yet deem a mission still.
The whole journey of yesterday resets my whole perspection of life and thoughts.
"Which field are you serving? What kind of work are you doing? It doesn't matter. It is your attitude towards your occupation and the heart you carry along upon accomplishing your tasks that matter..."
The firefighter.
They are supposedly the bravest, the strongest in strength, the highest in stamina, the most agile, the fastest, the most skillful, the highly cautious, most attentive, the most considerate, the most positive and they are supposedly with the highest dicipline.
In all the rescue operations of the Chinese firefighters that I have came across with, those unknowingly made me blurted,
"It must be really painful..."
"That must have been difficult..."
"What about you...?"
"Fool..."
Not the kind of fool Eldrad Van Zandt used to call me. But a different kind of fool.
They are strategically, intelligent, respected individuals. Occupied with all the safety gears and reliable equipments, being selfless at the cost of their life, knowing that well and yet, carrying the responsibility of saving life, protecting the citizens with their life. Do we ever, really pay attention, to how selfless this occupation is?
Or I would say, this whole journey of getting to know the life of firefighters,
somehow is giving me direction on how do I solve the conflict I have
about being 'Selfless' these days.
They are human too. All the burnt and wounds. The cold and the heat. Does it not hurt, just because they are Firefighters? Does it not drains their energy, just because they are Firefighters?
They never show it. They choose not too. They, must, always look strong and reliable to the people. Because they are the firefighter. They do not only fight fires, but all sorts of danger that may harm the people - be it on duty or off duty. They are the symbol of the strongest human being despite being human themselves.
Once, there was a firefighter who was on a holiday. He came across a car accident. Calling their country 119 while rescuing the victims as he tried to calm a boy whom his father was bleeding, unconscious, stucked in their car after the accident.
"Don't cry! Don't cry! I wont give up! Okay? Believe me! Your dad will be fine! Trust me!" shouted the firefighter to calm the boy as he tried to save the father of the boy.
In the other case, where the firefighter faced the hurtful soul who was about to end their life. How not only their skills and strength are being tested at such crucial time. But their warmth and words of consoles too, must somehow be, extraordinary, equipped along in their rescue mission.
"What happened? Why are you here?
Don't be scared. We are all here for you.
It's okay. I will help you to safety.
Don't be scared. You are not alone.
Just be a little stronger. It will be fine.
Hold onto me and I will take you to a safer place.
Dont worry, I'll bring you out safely..."
The firefighter.
The profound existence in time of danger.
The humble hero without the luxury of time and worldly possessions.
The protector of the citizen,
The precious icon of children,
The hope of people.
The strongest weaponless existence.
Selfless.
Hereby,
I stand up straight, saluting the firefighters,
For all of the sacrifices and the hardships and, their willingness to serve and protect the people
How great would it be?
If I could be as strong and selfless as the firefighter.
If I could be as skillful and fully equipped as the firefighter.
If I could be as discipline as the firefighter.
If I could be as focus and fearless as the firefighter.
If I could be as the ideal firefighter would be.
Me being weak myself.
I am very much attracted to strength. Be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.
If I couldnt be the strongest, I wish I could somehow be under the protection of the strongest.
But we are all human, be you a firefighter or the strongest human ever alive.
None would have surpasses Our Creator
Worry not.
Our life is solely protected by Allah
HE is our strongest protector.
We are all under the care and protection of Allah, the Almighty.
"But having the strongest protector by our side doesnt mean we can stay on being weak..."
I remember what a young wife of a dedicated chinese firefighter said to her husband when he was suddenly called for the rescue mission upon their reunion.
"I will protect the family. You. Go and protect the people..."
So these are some words that I wish I would embrace it dearly.
"There would be at least, one thing, one precious thing that you would want to protect or have to protect. Whatever, whoever it may be..."
"And remember, remember, that when there is something you want to protect in life, it comes with a condition and a price. The condition is that you must be strong and selfless. The price is the pain and wounds only you bear, behind the eyes of people..."
"You protect what you have to. And Allah protects all including you..."
It turns out that, there are many ways you can choose to approach life.
- You can choose to be like the strong general in war, equipped with all kind of weapons, and strategies to protect yourself and the people of your nations. You live up to your name and fame, also cunning and calculative in the plan of strengthening your root as the ruler of the nation in life. You do not back down and hold tightly onto your great mission and philosophy beside having the power and worldly possessions in winning the war.
- You can choose to be like a Jianghu teaveller who enjoys tea and spend time playing the board game of weiqi. Embracing all different kind of tea, be it sweet or bitter. Wearing elegance robes daily as you take your time tasting delicacies from north to south, east to west. As long as the peace you cultured is not threatened, you would never unsheathe the sharpest sword you are carrying. But if threatened, your opponent would definitely be left bleeding by your sword. You engage in the fight, to protect yourself and the peace you have been securing in Jianghu.
- You can be like a firefighter. Always making sure you are in the best condition in order to be able to help and protect others. You do not carry any weapons or swords, yet equipped with various equipment, skills and strength that entitled you as the fittest in helping and rescuing others. You who value and define life, safety and the people's wellbeing as the top priority and luxury. Way beyond the other worldly possessions. You do not hurt but only save. You may not be seen as the brightest star in the sky. You may not be what the world called as the most precious. Yet, there is no value that can be named to your existence.
- You can also be the best version of yourself. What you deemed fit as the best for yourself
I do not want to forget.
- The firefighter who showed great strength in his mission yet at the same time, being the most delicate of all in ensuring the safety of the victims.
- The firefighter who himself was freezing after saving drowning victims during winter.
- The firefighters who were dehydrated after hours fighting the fire, pouring buckets of water on themselves before running back into to fire.
- The firefighters who were calm dealing with the tears and anxious scream of the victims.
- The firefighters who were most cautions and careful when dealing with the life and safety of the people.
- The firefighter who lost his family members yet performed his rescue mission successfully.
- The firefighters who trains daily to be able to accomplish their selfless willingness to help and protect.
- The 19 years old firefighter who ran as fast as he could, caryying the unconsious 13 years old fire victims out of the dangerous zone. The statement by the citizens at that time, "He himself is young and yet..."
- The firefighter who gave his food supply to the victims and the kids.
- The firefighter who slept on the floor, giving their bed to the people.
- The firefighter who jumps into the water without thinking twice to save the drowning victim.
- The firefighter who despite the mission they carry is as easy as removing a stuck ring on your finger, they carried it out selflessly.
- The 19 firefighter who is saving the 14 years old suicidal girl, shouting, "Live. I will help you! Live! Live!"
