Firefighter Zen — Hersch Wilson

“Be brave. Be kind. Fight fires.”

That’s the motto of firefighters, like Hersch Wilson, who spend their lives walking toward, rather than away from, danger and suffering. As in Zen practice, firefighters are trained to be fully in the moment and present to each heartbeat, each life at hand. In this unique collection of true stories and practical wisdom, Wilson shares the Zen-like techniques that allow people like him to stay grounded while navigating danger, comforting others, and coping with their personal response to each crisis. Every life contains the unexpected and the unwelcome. How you cope with those inevitable events, more than the events themselves, defines the quality of your life. Firefighter Zen is an invaluable guide to meeting every day with your best calm, resilient, and optimistic self.

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An excerpt from Firefighter Zen

“We had a car crash in the middle of an autumn night. We were a little ramped up because the call had gone out “young children involved.” As I drove to the scene, I felt anxiety building. There was that sinking feeling that this would be another bad call. I got there, saw the wrecked car, checked in with command, and was assigned patient care for one of the young girls. The chief told me that she was about eight years old, status unknown. I jogged down to the car, buckling my bunker jacket. I opened the car door and saw the little girl, who appeared uninjured but teary-eyed. I said, “Hi, my name is Hersch. I’m with the fire department. Are you okay?” In response, she just leaped into my arms, almost knocking me over. I was so relieved. She tightly held on to me, and I carried her across the median to the waiting ambulance. She was fine, and I thought, Best call ever!

It was such a simple thing. Not the most dramatic, nor the most memorable, emergency of my thirty-plus years as a firefighter, but one that sums up the joy that can come from first responding. There is darkness, tragedy, and suffering, to be sure. But every once in a while, a child leaps into your arms. And at that moment, you know you are doing the work you are meant to do, and that feeling is joy.

This is the thesis of this book. Life brings with it anxiety, suffering, and tragedy; stuff happens. The world feels a mess. Our lives turn on that dime. Yet we each have the ability and the capacity to find joy.

Here is the promise of this book. If we accept life for what it is, with no illusions, if we can keep our perspective when all around us individuals are losing theirs, if we take as fact that we will suffer and grieve, and finally, if we deeply commit to the understanding that the highest calling is service to others, then we have a shot at finding joy.

This is what being a volunteer firefighter has taught me, and I want to share these lessons with you.”

Be brave. Be kind. Fight fires.