Serve by Design

Our family room is decorated with Texas symbols. It is a tribute to the fifteen years that we resided in the Lone Star State. Prominently on display is a beautiful Texas Afghan throw comforter, that is draped over our largest couch and showcased by two Texas pillows at each end! The comforter pictures, in decorative stitching, some of the most notable symbols of the Great State: the Alamo, the Mockingbird, the Armadillo, a Bucking Bronco, a Pecan Tree, and numerous Bluebonnets outlining the perimeter! It is a continual reminder of what we love about Texas! A Tribute to Mac! I regularly read these monthly periodicals: Texas Monthly , Parks and Wildlife , and Texas Highways . They help me to keep up with Texas news, events, and happenings! I never miss reading the last page of Texas Monthly that features a delightfully funny and sarcastic short article with a “Question and Answer” format. It is written by Davis Courtney, The Texanist , who, by his own description, offers “Fine Advice an...

Last week, I participated in an intensive, three-day training event to equip chaplains, sworn officers, and code employees at the Illinois State Police Academy (ISP). The topics were crisis management and wellness. This may surprise you, but law enforcement is exposed to significant trauma four to six times greater than the general population. Our role, as chaplains, is to not only deal with our own susceptibility to compassion fatigue, but at the same time “help the helpers!” As I was sitting in the instruction room during a session, I noticed a mirror mounted on a board with a placard attached that said, “You only have one chance to make a first impression.” I have seen variations of this quote usually attributed to Will Rogers, who said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” I was curious how this saying was being applied in a law enforcement setting. One of the new chaplains who serves along with me throughout the Capital City was sitting nearby the day I no...

I recently participated in a three-day training event for Illinois State Police chaplains. It is a privilege to serve alongside thirty volunteer chaplains throughout the state. We serve the commanders, troopers, and public as needed for support, ceremonial functions, and during emergency crises. While we train online quarterly, we have not been able to meet in-person since the Pandemic. This return to normal is what made this gathering a little more special! Bedding Perfection! This event was an important time of team building, classroom discussion, CPR recertification, and touring by van to the various ISP facilities that included central command downtown, the training academy near Chatham and the Pawnee shooting range where we saw a demonstration of the elite K9’s and their trainers in action, and also a demo of the precision driving required to navigate the Emergency Vehicle Operation’s course. We also toured the cadet barracks at the academy and observed their regimented para-mil...