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By Dan Carlson, on December 29th, 2006
Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a recognition event for Chief Stephanie Good of the Orono Police Department.
Chief Good is also leaving her position at the end of the year, however she is moving on to a position of Chief Deputy with the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office. She will be second in command in the department working with Sheriff-elect Rich Stanek. The Hennepin County Sheriffs Office is a great organization that I have enjoyed working closely with over the years. I know Stephanie will be a great asset to the organization and I wish her well.
There were two other retiring chiefs present at the event, three if you count me. Chief Joy Rikala of the Minnetonka Police Department and Chief Bob Hearns of the Golden Valley Police Department. There is a lot of movement in law enforcement leadership in the area. Change is good, but I think it it very important to the the individuals going through these big changes, that they have a plan. Clearly Stephanie has a plan, I know Joy does too, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to Bob in detail since he announced so I don’t know his plans yet, but plans are important for the soul.
We spend a lot of time training and preparing people to enter the police and other public safety professions. We know it is critical to success and liability protection to do so. However, when it comes to leaving the profession we pretty much leave it up to the individual. I don’t think that is a good way to care for our people. That is why I am so excited about the “Retirement Academy” the Eden Prairie Police Department is hosting ia a couple of months. I have the opportunity to facilitate it, but there will be several “transition professionals” brought in to do the teaching. More on that later as it gets closer.
So here I say good luck and thanks to all who have served and and are moving on. I know each will continue to serve, just in new capacities, it is part of their spirit, it is in their soul.
By Dan Carlson, on December 26th, 2006
One of my favorite books is The Art of Pilgrimage by Phil Cousineau
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Geared toward modern-day pilgrims looking for inspiration and a few spiritual tools for the road, this book combines stories, myths, parables and quotes from famous travelers of the past to help them focus on the purpose and intention at every stage of their journey.
“I am convinced that pilgrimage is still a bona fide spirit-renewing ritual. But I also believe in pilgrimage as a powerful metaphor for any journey with the purpose of finding something that matters deeply to the traveler. With a deepening of focus, keen preparation, attention to the path below our feet, and respect for the destination at hand, it is possible to transform, even the most ordinary journey into a sacred journey, a pilgrimage.” –Phil Cousineau, from THE ART OF PILGRIMAGE (Hardcover, Conari Press, 1999; Paperback, Conari Press 2001, Audio: Dove Audio
It is a book that I often pick up and randomly re-read different part of the book. One of my favorite sections is where he tells a story about “sitting on your luggage”. It is a ritual a family goes through when about to set off on a new adventure. They will take 30 minutes, after everything is packed, and just sit. Sit and reflect. Think about what is ahead, what is behind, do I have everything, am I forgetting anything, did I turn off the stove and lock the door (my additions).
Well, today on December 26, 2006 I start my 30 days of sitting on my luggage. I moved out of my office at the EPPD on Friday and into a temporary space. I’m going to take some time off but I need to finish up a few things before I retire 30 days from now. It will be a time of reflection, anticipation, tying up loose ends, saying good by, cleaning out files…….. and some time to just sit, reflect and make sure I’m not forgetting anything. And some time to finish up those thing I did forget.
My journey to the next phase of my life truly is a pilgrimage. I am seeking. This website will be a vehicle to share that journey and I hope you will join me and share the experience.
By Dan Carlson, on December 25th, 2006
From all of us at Public Safety Ministries, Have a Very Merry Christmas and A Wonderful Holiday Season!!
Don’t forget to take some time on these busy days, to contemplate, to pray, to meditate or what ever it is you do that helps you calm and rest your soul. And don’t for get to say thank you to all of the warriors for peace out there. Thanks to the soldiers overseas and at home keeping us safe. And also to the public safety professionals that will spend the holidays at work, away from their families protecting and serving so that we can rest and enjoy the season.
By Dan Carlson, on December 21st, 2006
Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association Board Meeting
December 21, 2006
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 ask for strength, peace, wisdom and humility. Provide us Strength to endure the many challenges we face in this profession, Peace to find the time and opportunity to rest in this hectic holiday season, Wisdom to discern honest truth as we make countless critical leadership decisions and Humility to appreciate and understand the true meaning of this holiday season.
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 December 20th, 2006
I woke at 4 this morning. I’m tired but can’t sleep. I spent about an hour trying to get back to sleep, watched the news a bit, looked at a couple of old movies, read a bit, but nothing worked. So I gave up and now I write.
It’s not surprising that I can’t sleep. It is now 5:30 AM. It is the start of day 3 in the count down to the end of my police career with the City of Eden Prairie. It is Wednesday and Friday is my last day as Chief. So I’m guessing that might have something to do with it. 25 years of waking up and going to work at the same place. A lot of different jobs and assignments with the department over the years, but the single identity: Eden Prairie Cop, stayed constant. That ends on Friday.
The family and I watched the movie “White Christmas” about a week ago, a family tradition. A song from the movie keeps popping into my head this morning “What do you do with a general, when he stops being a general? ” How about chief, sergeant, lieutenant or captain? What do you do when you stop doing what you do? Well I think I have a plan and what you are reading is part of it. I’d like to help people prepare and go through what I am going through right now, life’s changes. And I strongly believe that a healthy soul, kept that way through spiritual fitness is critical if we are to survive the inevitable changes in life.
I’ll close this post with something that gave me some peace this morning. It helped me rest and re-focus on the day to come. It is a favorite prayer of mine that I go back to often to help find perspective. It says something new every time I read it, but is comfortable and comforting at the same time. It is from “Thoughts in Solitude” by Thomas Merton
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My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please
you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all
that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you
will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death, I will
not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
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| Thomas Merton |
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