Public Safety Ministries Inc.

I just finished Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup.

It is the story of a Chaplain for the Maine State Warden Service (game wardens) and how she came to enter the ministry, specifically a law enforcement chaplaincy ministry. For obvious reasons, Ann my book consultant and owner of Excelsior Bay Books in downtown Excelsior MN, suggested the read and I was not disappointed.

There are many stories of law enforcement chaplain experiences and a lot of insights into faith in the profession. I highly recommend the book to all readers, but especially to those in law enforcement, search and rescue and specifically those of us pursuing chaplaincy ministries. I expect I’ll make reference to the book in the future as it has some great insights. I’d like to share a short passage that I found very enjoyable

On June 12, 2004 I was ordained a Unitarian Universalist minister. My first official act was to pray for the game wardens and other law enforcement officers present.

I was sorely tempted to offer prayers for a guarantee of safety. What prayer springs to mind when I hear one of them on the radio, headed off to something that sounds a little scary? Oh God, please protect him. Oh God, please keep her safe.

On the other hand, if safety were a police officer’s top priority, she would doubtless have chosen another profession. To be truly safe would require that she set aside her own calling, terminate her own loving service to God and neighbor.

So I could not ask God to protect their bodies-though please, guys, do your best to protect your own won’t you?

“Join me as you will….” I said.

“May you be granted capable and amusing comrades, observant witnesses, and gentle homecomings.

“May you be granted respite from what you must know of human evil, and refuge from what you must know of human pain.

“May God defend the goodness in your hearts.

“May God defend the sweetness in your souls…”

Good stuff, I’ll be using it more in the future.

Trained to kill….but what happens when they come home?

That’s the title of a front page story in the Strib this morning (click on it to read the article). The subject of military reintegration has consumed much of my time over the past year. Just this past month I was part of an effort with the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the Minnesota Sheriffs Association and the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Task Force that distributed military reintegration training DVD’s to over 400 law enforcement agencies through out the state. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with the Minnesota National Guard presenting military reintegration briefings to numerous law enforcement agencies in Minnesota.

The issues that surround military reintegration are very complicated and very numerous. But the important thing is that the information void that previously existed regarding returning combat veterans, a void that still exists but is improving drastically, is getting the attention it deserves. I challenge you to read , to listen, to pay attention to the issues that surround military reintegration. There are a lot of dedicated people working to improve conditions for these very deserving military service personnel. Pay attention and do your part to help.

The one message I want to leave you with today is one that I don’t think gets enough attention. There is a lot of attention paid to the negative impacts of military deployment, and those impacts are significant. And it is our duty to do what we can to help. However, the combat vets I have met and heard stories about are not damaged goods. Quite the opposite. Through positive reintegration support, these people are coming back to be very productive and positive contributors to our communities.  They have seen things, had experiences, overcome challenges that many of us will never imagine.  They have gained perspective, developed skills and grown as individuals.  And they come home to humbly resume their lives without asking for thanks.

Well, hear is something we can all do, say thanks.  Welcome them home, say thank you, then ask to hear their stories.  But if you ask, honestly listen, listen on their terms, don’t use the stories to validate your personal agenda, don’t politicize or sensationalize.  Just listen to them and appreciate them.  As MNNG Chaplain John Morris says at the end of all e-mails :

“Expecting great things from Minnesota’s
 greatest generation: Our Combat Veterans”

Life is good!  Life is busy.  Life is chaotic.  Life is abundant.  Life is life!  We are creatures of habit.  Our lives are so full that we get into routines and it is those routines that keep us on schedule and keep us up on our commitments.  Our routines and our schedules help us “balance” our lives.  But when we throw something new into the mix, either expected or unexpected, we lose our routine, our schedule our balance and everything seems to get out of whack.

That’s what happened when I set off for PLTS (Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkley California) a couple of weeks ago.  I had the 5 day trip and travel time built into my schedule.  I’d go out there for a week, meet some people, learn some stuff, fulfill a few more requirements towards my goal of ordination……everything right on schedule and in balance.  But between the fellowship I shared with new friends and colleagues and the classroom experience, I came home overwhelmed with an abundance of spiritual action and ministry passion that threw things out of whack.  That combined with a nasty cold led to no posts, little rest, trying to do ten things at once then add a few for good measure……well……things got out of whack.  Until yesterday.

Yesterday I spoke at an adult forum at Faith Lutheran Church in Waconia MN.  I spoke on the Centered Life.  I wrote a brief post on the book The Centered Life by Jack Fortin quite a while ago.  Anyway,  as I was talking about the importance of trying to center your life rather than balance it I actually listened to myself and started today looking to my center, my source of strength and purpose….my personal faith…..a faith in something greater than self…….for me, a faith in God.

So today I have a bit more peace.  Things are still out of balance a bit, but finding your center is the first step to bringing back some routine.  Well, enough of Dan’s thought wanderings for now…… but by the way, Where do you find your center?

It has been a rather hectic week or so in the Carlson household. But as I wake this morning I find myself in a place I’ve never been before, Berkley California. Although I haven’t run into any “Hippies” with flowers in their hair, I find I am no longer in the minority wearing my Birkenstocks. (although most of the people here don’t accessorize with the same sock selection that I do).

I am here for an educational experience at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS). Recently I was entered as a candidate for ordination through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and now I am participating in the Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) program as an extension of my studies at Luther Seminary, St. Paul (LSSP).

Therefor, I am here at PLTS, via LSSP, pursuing ordination in the ELCA through TEEM! (Ahhhhhh, acronyms, I feel like I’m back in government work!)

Anyway, that’s what I’m up to this week. It looks like this will be a great experience. I’ll try to share more as the week goes on but I’m not sure how busy I will be. Signing off from TLQIBCa. (The La Quinta Inn Berkley California for you civilians and non-clergy types)