Labor Day is a great holiday. It creates an opportunity to enjoy summer type activities before getting into the school and fall work routine in earnest. We spent our Labor Day like a lot of people yesterday. We had family over to the house to cook hamburgers outside. It was fun to watch my nephews and niece play. The innocence of small children is refreshing like nothing else. After the day’s activities were completed, we settled in to watch an old classic movie. With the movie going, I did not hear Care Flight soar over the house. My relaxing Labor Day was about to shift in a much different direction.

Several Law Enforcement personnel in Hood County were involved in an officer related shooting not too far from our home. About 9:00 I was called to assist.
There were ministry needs on many levels awaiting. My mind immediately went back to May of 2007, when I assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety in serving the needs of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department in the aftermath of two deputies being killed in the line of duty. The situation last night did not involve a line of duty death, but it was still a similar ministry situation.

As I was finishing up the responsibilities associated with that situation, the police department called for assistance in a case of domestic violence. It was acute situation that needed immediate attention. They called me to assist, because they felt genuine compassion for the victim.

When I got home early this morning, I was reminded of a few simple facts. I have known these things for a long time, but I need periodic reminders. While we eat burgers and watch the little ones play, there are men and women out in the field protecting and serving. They are out there ready to protect a total stranger in a moment’s notice. They are out there serving as well. Serving in a spirit of compassion….

I continue to learn good things from our public servants. I think God calls on all of us to serve people from all walks of life in all kinds of situations. In a church setting, there are times I hear more about what people want and desire than I do about serving and caring. We are all selfish by nature. The truth is: I also focus too much on what I want and desire, and not enough on serving. Spending some time with servants who are in the trenches gets me on the right track in a matter of minutes. I am tired this morning, but I am grateful for unselfish servants who knock me back onto the right path by their example.

John