I HATE being the “new guy”.

 As you know, I have started running on the ambulance again recently, which makes me the new guy.  It is not that I do not know what I am doing, I do not know HOW THEY are doing it now.  The service is completely different since I was running before.  In fact, I am in Field Training.  I have a list of things that I have to get signed off before they will turn me loose on all of the county’s sick and injured.  Which is probably a good thing.

One thing I know about myself, I really don’t “get it” until I have done it.  The term for a person who learns my way is “TACTILE”.  However, before I do it, I would like to observe someone else do it a time or two, and then walk me through it the first couple times.  This is not how my Field Training Officer is doing it however.  They satisfy themselves that I should be able to handle the patient (for my level of training), and sit back and ask “What else should you do?” over and over again.  I am not sure if there is something I am supposed to be doing or if my FTO is just going to keep asking until the patient arrives at the hospital - or dies.  It is unnerving, but I will endeavor to persevere.  Another thing I know about myself is that if I cannot do something well (my version of “well” would be closer to REALLY well), I do not want to do it, so I have to fight my own thoughts about just giving up.

Remember when you were “new” here at GLC?  You probably had been a Christian for a while, and you knew what you were doing, you just were not aware HOW we do it.  “Can I clap during worship?  Raise my hands?  Do they “Amen”, and “Halleluiah” around here?  Am I dressed correctly?  Are the people friendly toward guests?  Is the pastor a jerk? (I am afraid so)”  A million questions probably went through your mind.  In fact, I bet you HATED being the new guys….

Chances are our guests and newcomers feel the same way.  Our question becomes:  “What el