Yoga Tales from Rural Maine: The things we do for love

I recently had this conversation with a woman who had to fill out some forms related to my accident...

Woman filling out forms: "So you're a volunteer firefighter with Orland?"

Me: "Yes, a trainee. And I serve as the Public Information Officer."

Woman: "And how much are you paid?"

Me: "Nothing, we're an all-volunteer department."

Woman: Pausing...and deciding to take another tack, "But how much is your stipend?"

Me: "Nothing, we're volunteers"

Woman: Pausing again to consider her next remark, then with a small amount of aggravation and a dab of suspicion, "And your per diem? How much is THAT?"

Me: "Um...nothing? I am a volunteer. I volunteer. I am paid nothing for my service."

Woman: "You mean you receive absolutely no compensation?"

Me, quite happily: "That's right!"

There are places where "volunteer" first-responders are paid stipends, per diems, or receive other financial rewards. But we at the Orland Fire Department are genuinely, 100%, totally and completely volunteering our time--really. This is one of the reasons that I love them so very, very much.

Together, in 2013 the OFD volunteered 1,100 hours at scenes, including structure fires, wildlands fires, traffic accidents and ice and water rescues. In addition to those hours, we also spend a tremendous amount of time in training and meetings, and our officers do a LOT of paperwork.

A karma yogi (like Ghandi) asks, "How can I serve?" ; a volunteer firefighter asks the same question.

When I was training to become a yoga teacher, my teacher-trainer asked us why we wanted to be yoga teachers. My hand was first in the air. My response was immediate and True: "Love."

If you asked me why I wanted to be a volunteer firefighter, my answer would be the same. There may not be any money in it, but what I get instead is priceless.

My yoga student, Julia (right), training me (left).
Julia is the assistant chief of our volunteer fire department.