Celebrating the Journey

Today we hosted The First Annual Sgt. Lance McClean Memorial Golf Tournament. It was a great event. Sgt. McClean was murdered in the line of duty after confronting an accused sex offender that was threatening the person he allegedly victimized. The proceeds from the tournament will go to Lance’s family. When I got home this afternoon, I went to my closet to make sure my trench coat was hanging in its place. I realize that sounds like an odd thing…

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I was not the chaplain on call that cool night in March of 1994.  But as chaplain commander that particular year, I was on call in the event of a major event that required more than one person to respond.  When my pager went off at 1:30 in the morning, I knew it was not good news.  Back in the pre-cell phone days, we had to call our dispatcher in order to receive details about the needs of the moment….

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I am not one apt to complain.  At least that is the perception I have of myself. There is a distinct possibility that such self understanding is way off base. I am capable of whining about anything and everything.  I realized I have nothing to grumble about, because I spent today spent visiting friends at Parkland Hospital’s Burn Unit in Dallas. I have a friend whom I privileged to serve at the Granbury Police Department that has been with her…

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It happened over 20 years ago, but the lesson it is still imprinted firmly on my mind…In my role as a law enforcement chaplain, I was riding out with an officer on the day shift.  This particular officer had just completed a role in a lengthy undercover narcotics operation.  She had now returned to the patrol section, so I was assigned to interview her.  It was our desire as chaplains to do a better job serving officers working in deep…

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When I saw the faces of those traumatized following the shooting in Connecticuttoday I felt helpless.  I felt a deep-seated longing to serve those who were hurting.  But I quickly concluded that praying for victims and first- responders alike was my exclusive responsibility. And then I realized that I had reached a premature conclusion. I can show respect for the traumatized in Connecticut by serving those who are hurting in my own community.  The circumstances are obviously much different. But…

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NYPD officer Lawrence Deprimo is quite the celebrity right now.  A lady visiting New York from Phoenix caught him on camera putting a pair of socks and new water proof boots on a homeless man, who had no shoes in this late November weather.  The photographer grew up in a law enforcement family.  Her dad was a 32 year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department.  There are several things that stand out to me about this event that has gone…

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I must admit that I am very fortunate. I have friends of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds.  Some of my dearest friends consider themselves to be liberal politically and others are quite conservative. I have friends who are deeply religious and others that are not.  Last night I visited a very special friend in an ICU unit at a Fort Worth hospital who is nearing age ____ (Well I should not tell her age.)  Today I interacted…

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It is noontime on a Monday of all days at a busy hospital in the Midwest.  The surgical technicians are already tired. They have already had two surgeries before taking a quick break for lunch. The physician preparing to administer anesthesia is fully engaged in his role, but he is looking forward to a late afternoon tennis game. The ham sandwich from the hospital cafeteria was mediocre at best, so the nurse pitches the Styrofoam box in the trash.  She…

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As a volunteer law enforcement chaplain, I have walked a delicate line for over 22 years. I am a Christian minister, and I so I have a solemn duty to act in a way that represents Christianity properly.  But I am also called to serve in an environment that is often dark.  More specifically I am called to serve the officers that share my Christian values, and I am also called to serve those that do not. I am expected…

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Yesterday I was honored to be asked to be a participant in The National Day of Prayer Breakfast held at The Granbury Resort Conference Center. My assignment was to pray for our military and our law enforcement officers.  I think they knew pretty quickly they assigned the right guy to that task. They know what I am passionate about! But I could not help but be a little amused as well as humbled during the event itself. There must have…

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