WHERE HAS BROTHERHOOD GONE?CHECK YOUR LAUNDRY ROOM.
I believe in symbols and the power thereof. The fire service is full of them. I believe one of the most powerful symbols of brotherhood is found in every firehouse with a laundry room.
I recently went several tours where I put clothes in the wash and then completely forgot about it. It was kind of an epic failure. I think it was four consecutive tours that someone transferred my wet laundry to the dryer, then removed it and folded it.
Each time, when hours later I remembered my stuff in the wash, I would round a corner at the end of the hall and hang a right into the laundry spot, dreading the inevitable wrinkled lump of duty wear on top of the dryer.
Instead, each time I found my gear crisply folded and stacked. As I filled my arms and walk to my locker, the demons of shame and pride arose within me.
I am ashamed that another person has to waste their time moving and folding my crap because I was too stupid or lazy to tend to it myself.
I am proud because I am surrounded with humble servant leaders who choose to love me as a brother rather than shit on me as the junior member of the company. I know that they have my back – not because they say so, but because they prove it to me every day.
I don’t want to hear about laying your life on the line for me. I don’t want to hear some grandiose fantasy about how you’d rather die pulling out your bro than live having left him inside. You can save your Everyone Goes Home talking points. I do not care. If you take your brother or sisters clothes from the dryer and drop them in a heap on the counter, you are an unmitigated piece of crap.
You want to be a brother?
You want to demonstrate your commitment to the company?
Get to folding some laundry.
