A Firefighting Career That Almost Did Not Happen

by Michael Donahoe

When it comes to jobs and careers, many kids talk about what they want to be starting from an early age. For me, it was ten years old. My mom had a scrapbook she kept of school records and various happenings while I was growing up. She showed me a post I had written in the book, at age ten, saying I wanted to be a fireman.

Many kids talk about being a fireman when they are young, but not as many actually become one. I was one of those that followed through over the years and did fulfill my dream. Yet, it did not all happen at once, but over many years.

When I was eighteen, I came across an article in the local newspaper that talked about a volunteer organization that worked with Columbus Fire. Now, being a Columbus Firefighter was my absolute lifetime dream. My grandfather had been on Columbus and we lived just a few blocks from two different Columbus fire stations. My mom would take me to them often when we were out for a walk. The organization was the Columbus Fire Auxiliary and I was so excited when I found out I could apply to be part of this group.

At this point in time, I did not have many options to get hired with Columbus Fire because there was a height and weight limit, and I was always too skinny. Fortunately, the Columbus Auxiliary was a fantastic opportunity for me and it did not have those weight requirements. Glad to say, I applied and got accepted and spent two years enjoying being part of the firefighter family.

In the meantime, life went on and I got married, had a couple children and did not have time to spend as a volunteer. Fortunately, a few years later, we moved into an area that still had a part volunteer/part paid fire department. Again, I was extremely excited because this was a step-up from my first experience. I got to participate more and felt more like a firefighter. I spent seven years working with the Madison Township Fire Department. I definitely got an idea of what life was like working at the firehouse, and I was certainly hooked. I actually got to a point where I qualified to take the test for the Columbus Fire Department, although I never got far enough along to get hired.

After another change in life came along, I left the volunteer position and worked more on family, my kids and normal day to day life. Needless to say, at this point I was in my mid-thirties and I was seriously thinking my chances of getting hired full-time was passing.

At this point I have to credit my wife for pushing me to take the civil service exam one more time. Since this had been a life-long dream of mine, fortunately I listened to her and I signed up for the next test. I can still remember it well, it was in 1992, the test was given at the Ohio State Fairgrounds and it was absolutely packed. I found out later there were around 7,500 people there for the test. I was standing near the end of one line, it was raining, and I almost decided to leave. I think God spoke to me from within and I decided that since I was already there, I should just stay, and I am so glad I did. I passed the exam and at least got on the list to continue the testing process.

This started a long, long time of testing processes that was so aggravating to me, I would often wonder what I was thinking getting into this. Yet, in 1997 (yes, five years later), I got the call that the Columbus Fire Department was offering me a job. I cannot express in words the joy and excitement I felt. I actually got up from my desk at my current job and drove straight to the recruitment office to get my official papers to be hired. A little over two weeks later, I found myself sitting at the Columbus Fire Academy on my first day as a fire recruit.

As a new fire recruit, I was one of the oldest people in the class. I was now 43, but the excitement of getting the job helped me to put in the effort, fit in with the younger people and get through the tough training to be a firefighter.

               (Final Burn in the academy with Red Company, Class of 5-4-97)

You cannot imagine the feelings of accomplishment, joy, happiness and being so proud on graduation day. My dream that started when I was ten years old was finally a reality. I spent the next twenty-two years living my dream as a Columbus Firefighter. If I was younger, I would still be working because it is the best job I can image. Yet, I always said when I turned sixty-five, I would retire and enjoy life. Besides, I did not want to become an old man that no one trusted or felt comfortable working around. After all, firefighting is mainly for young people and I did not want to stay past my time and ruin a good reputation.

At that point, I turned in my retirement papers and have enjoyed spending time with my wife and family, relaxing, traveling and doing whatever I wanted each day. Do I miss it? I sure do. I miss the people, I miss the excitement of the job, I miss the notoriety, I miss the runs and not knowing for sure what you were getting into and I miss the proud feeling of being able to help people in time of distress. Yet, I do not miss getting up early for work, having a schedule to follow, nor riding the medic and being up half the night.

  (My final day of work at Fire Station 22 and the great group of guys I worked with)

I can gladly say I am so very thankful to my wife for pushing me, so thankful to God for helping me to live my dream, and so thankful for all the other firefighters I had the privilege to work with over the years. In all, I got to enjoy thirty-one years of firefighting experiences, which was longer than I had realized at retirement. It was thirty-one years well spent with many experiences and friendships I will never forget.

After the Dream is Over

by Jim Gordon

This article focuses more on those of us who are, let’s say a little further along in life. Most people have a dream, something they want to do or want to become. Most often, this is in regard to some type of a job or career.

I certainly had a dream, and it started when I was ten years old. I wanted to be a firefighter. A lot of young kids have that dream, but I never lost interest in pursuing that dream.

I can remember the excitement I felt just thinking about one day doing this job. My heart would pound when I saw a fire truck going down the street with its lights flashing and siren blaring.

Over the next many years, I would dream about being a firefighter. I would read about it, watch TV shows about it, think about it, prepare and study. I constantly visited different fire houses and talked with the guys actually doing the job. Once I was old enough to do something about my dream, for various reasons it just never seemed to work out, at least not when I wanted it to become a reality.

When I was eighteen, there was a height and weight requirement for the job, and I was always underweight (wish I still had that problem). I could not do anything to gain enough weight to qualify for the testing process.

I ended up taking a job that I had never thought about or wanted to do, but since I needed to work, I took it. Not long afterward I got married and in time had a couple children. At that point, I could not afford to make a job change even though the height and weight requirements for the job were dropped. Yet after all this, my dream continued and I could not get the desire and the excitement of the job out of my mind.

Fortunately, when changes were made to the hiring process, the age requirement was dropped also. Finally, even though I was into my forties, I finally made the decision to give it a try. I was extremely fortunate to have a wife who knew how bad I wanted this job and who was willing to do whatever it took to help me and to keep the family finances in decent shape.

So, after all the years of dreaming, preparing, studying, taking tests and physicals and waiting, I finally got the job I had dreamed about for so long. Once actually on the department, I absolutely loved it. I am one of the lucky ones who actually got to live their dream job.

Now the issue was that since I started later in life, when I turned sixty-five years old, I knew it was time to retire. I had fulfilled my dream and loved doing it, but now I was ready for the next chapter in my life.

I certainly have not regretted leaving my dream job at all. I was blessed by God to get to fulfill it and I was blessed to have a wife who supported and encouraged me throughout the process and the job. But now I was ready to enjoy life outside of work.

Of course, this left the question of ‘now what’? After all the years of dreaming, preparing, studying, testing, day-dreaming about a job, then doing the job, it was over. So now what do I do after the dream is over?

At first, it can be quite confusing about what to do and how to handle this change. After having a specific identify for many years, then all of a sudden it is gone, it can take some time to adjust back into normal life. Then once you do, you wonder what can you do after you have fulfilled your dream.

The good thing is that it does not take long to start enjoying a life of no schedules, a life of never missing a family event again, a life of spending quantity and quality time with your spouse. Once you get into the groove of daily life outside of work, there are still plenty of things to do to enjoy life and fulfill a sense of purpose.

There are all types of hobbies, volunteer work, there is plenty of time to spend with kids and grandkids, there are plenty of parttime jobs out there, and for us, there is plenty of time to travel and see some places we have always dreamed about seeing.

So maybe the main dream is over in regard to a career, but there are plenty of other dreams out there just waiting to be fulfilled. The thing we need to remember is do not give up. Do not just sit day after day thinking there is nothing more to do. Focus on some of the other things you always would have liked to do if you just had the time.

I truly believe no matter what our age, God has a purpose for us to fulfill. We can do things that will bring us joy and give us purpose, and can also bring joy and be a help and encouragement to others. It is never to late. After the dream is over you can focus on the next dream to look forward to fulfilling.

Jim Gordon and his wife left the institutional church after spending over fifty years within the system. Jim wanted a way to express his thoughts and concerns about the religious system and why he and his wife decided to leave the institution but not their faith in God. Jim can be contacted by email at: jimgordon731@gmail.com

Is A Job Your Identity?

by Jim Gordon

After forty-eight years of work, retirement came as something I had looked forward to for many years. Yet once it happened the first thought was who am I now? What is my purpose? What is my identity?

All those years my identity was in what I did for a career. Now that it is over there were issues about who is the real me? Not the part that pertains to a job title but the real me. What makes up Jim Gordon apart from a job? What are my beliefs and what are the things that make me tick?

I have found that I am truly not my job title. There is more to me than a title at work. It is the same for all of us, once the title of our job is gone, it is time to re-familiarize ourselves with the real us, the one that has been there all along but hidden behind the job title.

I started thinking about who I am and what I believe and came up with a few thoughts. Just because I no longer have a job title does not mean I do not have something to offer. I believe we are all created in the image of God and we all have something we can contribute to show love and encourage others.

My first thoughts were more on things I am not: I am not into organized church, denominations or any particular doctrine. I am not into politics. I do not belong to any political party. I do vote, but I vote for who I feel will do the best job no matter what party they belong too. I am not into exclusion, separation or treating others with contempt. I do not want to judge others or try to force my views on anyone.

I have come to realize that we all have so many different views and opinions that I am not going to be able to please everyone. No matter what I believe, what I say, what my opinions are there are going to be people who totally disagree. I have come to accept that and to go on being me without the worry of what others think.  I am not sure why we fight and argue amongst ourselves so much.

I feel the person I am now is to live a quiet life, working with my own hands, loving God and loving others without the worry of what others think. We are each free to believe what we feel is right. I want to live a life pleasing to God, be responsible for hearing from the Spirit and doing what I feel is right for me.

I want to love people, accept others and show them the love of God no matter what. I will stick to the views, interpretations and opinions I feel are right and let others have the same freedom.

I will accept others just as they are and will not judge, condemn or hate anyone for any reason. I believe that God loves all of us just as we are. I will do my best to do the same. I really think if we all took that view on life, we would all get along much better.

I certainly have more time now than when I worked, but that does not mean it is time to sit around and do nothing. There are plenty of opportunities to do good, to show the love of God and to serve a positive purpose in life. No matter what stage of life you are in, God has a purpose for you to show his love and encourage others each day. Seek the guidance of the Spirit from within and be ready for God to bring others across your path to love and encourage.

If you are retired or no longer working for some reason, do not give up and think that things are over. You still have purpose. You still have good you can do. As long as you have love to give, a smile to lend or a voice of encouragement to share, your purpose and potential are just as valuable and important as ever.