Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship Newsletter

October 2009

“For whoever is joined with the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Indeed their love, their hate and zeal have perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun” (Ecc.9:4-6).

Life is packed with possibility and potential if we live it with anticipation and enthusiasm. That may sound like Pollyannaish fantasy, but an Eeyore disposition soon makes us a disparaging eyesore; one who doesn’t expect much, from himself, others, or life in general. And Eeyore’s always losing his tail.

It’s easy to slip into that mode. The demanding tyranny of our jobs, frustrating issues in relationships, perplexing circumstances in our homes, ominous news about the future, any or all of these can set us into a tailspin. But all of that wastes the precious resource of the present good that’s at hand. Most of what we fear never really happens, or occurs either with a lot less intensity or because we’re taking ourselves much too seriously. And even so, we survive it much better by facing it head-on instead of turning-tail (and losing it!). Never waste a humbling experience from an opportunity to grow wisdom and character. Rather than backing away, when we lean-in to the situation and find what’s in store for us, we also find what’s on board in us to own the product. We’re always the better for embracing our adversity and making peace with it. “Showing up” for life means being willing to engage it and go the distance.

A Chinese proverb says if we’re too busy looking back, we’ll miss an opportunity for the future. And one might add that our future grows ever shorter. The clock is ticking, and every¬thing God equips us with is for moving forward, not fretting misfortune. The Gen. Patton spirit of “When in doubt, attack!” is an attitude of leadership and confidence that, if our motive and method is in line with His, we won’t lose ground by. He’s a General we can trust, and life’s too short to spend guarding our tail! “…so eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with cheerful heart, for these are God’s gifts for the present. Let your clothes be white and there be oil on your head… whatever your hand finds to do, do it well; for there’s no activity or planning or wisdom in the grave where you’re going” (vv.7,8,10).

The last few ride-alongs I’ve been on were quite providential in my connection with the officers. A few weeks ago the shift was interesting but fairly routine. We had calls for service but mostly mental cases and misfits. But that gave us a lot of time to talk, and though it was more general, the pay-off came during the last hour where he unloaded about his fragile marriage. He loves his wife but the last year has been tough, and we were able to work through the hope and promise God gives, especially for that most special of relationships. Just to affirm and pray with him in his godly approach meant so much. The following week was actually a switch off between two officers throughout the shift, with an earful about an interpersonal conflict going on with one of the squad members, who later introduced himself to me as a “disgruntled employee.” More on that to come. But with the switch, we then received a code-3 call of a man down. First to arrive, we found him in full cardiac arrest. We worked on him until paramedics arrived, but even they couldn’t revive him. Pronounced at the scene, and laid out next to his Fifth Wheel with a trailered and tricked-out car show truck on top, at just 55 and “not a religious man” according to his wife, it was a sad portrait of a life of consumptive vanity. She was no better, and though I tried to comfort her, would have nothing to do with anything “Christian.” The man had vomited repeatedly all over my hands as I had tried in vain to clear his airway. I smelled his death for two days, the tragic futility of a wasted life and the ominous stench of a terrifying eternity. The third ride was with an officer who had ignored Christ most of his life and never cared about or understood much of the Bible. On his second marriage, it was his grown son from his first marriage who had become a believer and prayed for him several years. About a year and a half ago, his son once again embraced his father’s shoulders, said how much he loved him and that Jesus did too. It was like Paul on the road to Damascus. The lights came on, he went limp, and felt a nearness to the Lord he will never forget. He couldn’t sleep for a week and hardly ate, but his appetite for the Word was voracious. He couldn’t stop reading, and everything he read now made sense. He couldn’t help but weep as he shared his heart with me, and now that he’ll be retiring in a couple years, is looking for how he and his wife can serve the Lord in the time they have left. We talked through going about that search. God makes all things new!

Happy Reformation Day.