The Spiritual Side of First Responders and Military

In this mini-documentary episode hosted by Dr. Stacy Raymond, we will take a closer look at spirituality. Everyone has their own concept of what it means and that's what makes this topic so interesting. Spirituality is a foundation which allows us to continue living through tough times, it is a source that guides our decisions and helps us get through the day. For many First Responders and members of the military, spirituality can be a lifeline when one feels alone in an unfair world that sometimes makes no sense.

We will also hear what Spirituality means to those who risk their lives to protect, and in some cases, to save OUR lives. We will learn how their beliefs help them through their darkest moments. First Responders and those who serve in the military oftentimes witness extremes of the human condition. From delivering a baby, putting out a raging fire, keeping the peace and saving lives, to dealing with the carnage of car accidents and war, suicides and murders, and the heart-breaking inhumanity of racism, violence, and abuse.

Many of our First Responders and military see more trauma in one day than the rest of us typically encounter in a lifetime. First is the Post Traumatic Stress that anyone exposed to such trauma can develop immediately, or, years later: Such as difficulty sleeping, nightmares, intrusive sights – sounds – smells, depression, guilt, a hair-trigger temper, hypervigilance, relationship problems and substance abuse.

But on the flip side of that harrowing coin lies the quest for meaning and the potential for growth and understanding and joy. A potential for growth and understanding and joy that is equal to the depth of their suffering. Spirituality is a uniquely personal concept, as different as each and every one of us. A person’s spirituality serves as a foundation, a way to cope, a guide for living, and a comfort.