|
|
By Dan Carlson, on November 20th, 2006
As I posted a couple of days ago, I just attended a mens two day retreat through my church. The thing I like most about the retreat is the stories, and how these stories inspire me. Before I share some of these stories, I though I should explain how important the idea of storytelling is going to be to this website.
You will find as you visit this site, many of the stories I tell will be about me, about my family, about my friends and about those whose stories I hear and want to retell. There is a great quote (which I don’t have with me right now) in a book (that I can’t recall the exact title right now) by Frederich Buechner on the subject of telling our own stories. (I’ll post the specifics in a future post when I locate the book). But basically he writes about why he tells his story. It is not because his story is so important to the reader, but that it stimulates the reader to reflect on what their own personal story would be in the given situation.
So look to this site for stories, some may fit you, some may not. But most have had an impact on me and I hope you’ll fine something that can help you on your journey to spiritual fitness. Look for several good ones that I picked up this past weekend at the retreat.
By Dan Carlson, on November 18th, 2006
Today I write from the Dunn Brothers in Hudson Wisconsin. I am attending an annual mens retreat with my home church Mt. Calvary Lutheran. I snuck away for a bit to connect to the internet and make this post. For the past seven years we have traveled to the YMCA Camp St. Croix for a couple of days of rest, music and a whole lotta nothin if you want. But we also spend time consciously stopping and focusing on stopping. As I’ve written before, it is often critical to a healthy spirit to stop the chaos of our spirits and defibrillate our spirits enabling them to regain their healthy natural rhythm. I’m probably not stopping as I should since I’m sneaking of to make this post, but writing and sharing is one of the ways I personally defibrillate.
It is a ritual that I enjoy, often with old friends and often with new friends. As I often say in my invocations, “Fellowship is nourishment for our souls”. Here’s to a weekend of healthy spiritual diet and exercise!
 Where we sit and listen and (some people) sing
 Where we eat
 The Boys
PS, Pastor Scott is blogging also, check it out here
By Dan Carlson, on November 17th, 2006
The following is the invocation I shared at yesterday’s Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association Executive Board Meeting.
Dear God,
We thank you today for this opportunity to gather in the spirit of law enforcement leadership. We ask for guidance as we carry out our leadership roles in this association.
Specifically today we pray for safety and protection. As we enter this holiday season we ask that our members and their families enjoy a safe season as they travel and enjoy the holidays. We also ask that you protect our public safety professionals on the streets as they protect our communities during this season of celebrations and hazardous weather.
Bless the food we receive today as nourishment for our bodies, the information presented as nourishment for our minds and the fellowship we share as nourishment for our souls.
Amen
By Dan Carlson, on November 15th, 2006
One of the things that has always intrigued me is where we spend our time. As police chief I spend a lot of time at my desk at the EPPD. As I write this post I’m sitting at my desk at home. I also have a desk at my new PSMInc office in downtown Excelsior MN.
A few years ago I bought a book called The Writers Desk by Jill Krementz. The locations where we exercise spiritually are just as important as where we exercise physically. They need to be safe, comfortable and most of all compatible with our personal exercise practices. I like to write, it is a major spiritual exercise for me. So I thought, as in the Krementz book, I’d share some of the spaces I exercise in, some of my desks.
 My desk at home
 The view out the patio window to my left
Â
Take some time today and look around to where you spend your time. Is it conducive to spiritual exercise? If not, where would you go if you could? Awareness, assessment and application. Three parts of spiritual fitness. Take the time to assess your spiritual gym.
Â
*PS Note: Remember, if you click on the posted pictures you can get a larger view.
By Dan Carlson, on November 14th, 2006
A few days ago I posted a story “A House With Four Rooms”. When I posted it I had read it but not really reflected on it. I consciously visit all four rooms as often as I can, and am pretty good at getting to each one daily, if only to “air it out”. But what I have found upon reflection is that I don’t really get stuck in a particular room very often, but I seem to spend more and more time in the hallway trying to decide where to go next. I am aware of all four rooms, they are all very inviting, but my default location is the hallway.
You know the hallway isn’t such a bad place once you acknowledge you are there. We spend a lot of time in life trying to get somewhere else, wishing our circumstances were different, if only I was….. Well, I think I’ll put a chair in the hallway, maybe a good book, a cup of coffee too. I can see each of the rooms from there, even enjoy them looking through the open doors. I don’t want to live in the hallway, but it’s not a bad place to stop and pause once in awhile. A place to gain some perspective, a place to rest.
Some one else has said it before (as most of the things I say have been said before) Be where you are. But my little addition, Then try going someplace else
|
Donate to Public Safety Ministries via GiveMN You can donate a one-time amount or you can donate weekly, monthly, or annually via a recurring account.
Subscribe to Blog 
Blog RSS Feed
|
Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association
Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association
Minnesota National Guard "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon"
Minnesota Emergency Services Chaplain Association
Hennepin County Chiefs of Police Association
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Comments are closed 
