For those who are conscious of the difficult times in which we live, though evil is not prevalent and rampant, it is still here and operative… Otherwise we would not need Peace Keepers in ever increasing numbers… And it is not just happening in our cities… It is operating in rural areas also. Of course it has been happening all through our history in this country. Any student of our history knows that… So we have always needed the Peace Keepers or Sheepdogs as my dear friend Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (US Army Ranger Ret.) describes us. You have the sheep (the general population of civilians who need peace and public safety provided), the wolves (the perpetrators of evil that steal, kill and destroy)… And there is the Sheepdog who watches over the sheep to keep them safe, to be the protector between the sheep and the wolves to protect them from the wiles and attacks of the wolf when possible.
In this day and time there is a great need for the civilians (the sheep) to have an attitude of self protection and constant personal attitude of awareness of surroundings to be able to recognize and thwart the intentions of the wolves among us (those whose intention is to do evil and kill, steal or destroy).
Here is a link to a personal training program that is of taught by Dave Grossman. https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/bulletproofmind/ When you click the link you will get a video. If it starts to play erratically, pause it, minimize it in the paused mode and leave it for a while. I had to do that to get it to play properly. The video is about a teaching/training program for self help called THE BULLETPROOF MIND taught by Dave Grossman. It is a most useful and powerful set of material. Dave is a marvelous Teacher/Trainer and I have read his books and attended numerous of his seminars. I have taken advantage of that training subject myself some time back. If he is ever anyplace close to your location giving a seminar or training session you would profit greatly if you could attend. If you cannot attend, the training tapes he has are the next best thing… And be prepared to listen to them numerous times to get the full benefits of the material.
I have been greatly blessed this week. #1, I was able to spend someone else money to send 14 needy families Christmas shopping this morning…
And #2, The Virginia Beach Police Department awarded to me a shadow box covering all three of my careers with them during 35 years (and that is not counting my VSP career). It is awesome, 2 feet high and 3 1/2 feet long… It contains all of the shoulder patches, badges, name plates, title plates, ID cards and uniform markings that I have worn during my 35 years of service with them. It is a humbling experience to see it all displayed in one place. (See Attachment. Open with a picture manager program if you want to see the picture. It is .jpg)
The award was made in a Comstat Meeting of supervisors and commanders. I had worked street duty with most of the ones present including the Chief and Deputy Chiefs, several of whom I did street work with when they were rookies and I worked the patrol unit with them or did walking beats under their supervision after 1989. My career here covered from October1976 through October 2011. I told them I was brought here to live in this last place on earth that I ever wanted to live… That I could not get away from dreaming about police work both day and night… That I read a book about Police Chaplains and was so heavily burdened for their welfare that I applied to become a chaplain here and work with them…
I was here all 35 years because I loved them when I came to work with them, I loved them through that whole career and I will love them forever… And that applies to all of you who read this as well.
And #3, someone invited me out to dinner Friday evening and I was able to go. Of course, when the family called and could not reach me they thought I was in trouble. My son was here right after I arrived back home and numerous messages on the answering machine… Dinner and conversation were really good.
Life is good no matter the battles or challenges that I have faced and endured including my current challenges. NOTHING… WILL EVER DIMINISH MY LOVE OF LIFE… Nor my love of and for my Commander-In-Chief (Father, Almighty God), my Eternal Captain (Jesus Christ), my constant Companion, Guide, Keeper and Teacher (The Holy Spirit)… Nor my love of and for you!
I have known and experienced life from the lowest to the highest. I learned to see it as a Journey which I must travel. I came into this world to learn and do… To apply my talents and knowledge to accomplish good things, sometimes for people who did not particularly want it done. The present moment is all I have that can be used for the good of the people in the present moment with me… And often the next moment will be for the good of others as the time and the scene change… There will always be two constants in my life, me and God!… Everything and everyone else is subject to change. I cannot escape myself nor do I want to. I am here for a useful purpose. I do not want to be separated from God… So for as long as I live here in this life we will always be together wherever I am… That relationship is unchangeable for me so that I can be available to and for Peace Keepers… My change in position in relation to the Virginia Beach Police Department has not changed that either.
Peace Keepers of Law Enforcement and the Military are the building blocks of the foundation upon which this nation functions and exists. Without you we would never have come into being… Would never have progressed from those first landings into a continental nation… And would not still be here to this day. Politicians come and go… Government varies between not so great to great achievement (and the great achievements often have been because the leaders were previously involved in law or the military)…
Every citizen is dependent to some extent upon other citizens and all of us are dependent upon ourselves first, those whom we serve as employees or as we conduct our own businesses… And the Peace Keepers when crisis is greater than we are able to handle. Peace Keepers are our Crisis Management tolls. Stay safe and practice great care Peace Keepers… We all need all of you! Be even greater blessed… Christmas time is upon us… Just two weeks ’til Christmas Eve.
“BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!” ALWAYS be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary. Take the very best care of you as you care for and about others. See to the strength and well being of your spirit as well as all the rest of yourself. Your spirit must be strong for you to be successful. All of this is by your own choice… He has made provision for you but it is up to you to learn it, take it and put it to use for the best results possible.
Call or write if I may be of any service… Or if you just want to encourage me… Feedback encourages all who write… It helps to know we are reaching someone who reads the message.
Donna is in the hospital, had surgery Tuesday and will have extensive surgery Monday or Tuesday… She spiked a temperature of 104.5 last night and had a bad night. She was better and peaceful this morning but that is part of the pattern. She has a systemic infection and is on an antibiotic cocktail by IV.
My son is functioning better.
I am doing well but the eyes are still changeable, especially when they get tired or when my whole body is tired.
Thank you for the responses, care, concern and prayers.
As it has always been… So it still is!!!
“VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST…
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST…
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN.” Sun tzu
Training and practice are everything!
Without them, the best results are not obtained!
ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
THEY SEE IT ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE MADE THEIR ETERNAL PAYMENTS OF SWEAT, BLOOD, TEARS AND LIFE FOR THAT VICTORY!
WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT…
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)…
BE SUCCESSFUL… BE SAFE…
[My injunction to be safe means doing all you know to do as you do your job... it means doing the best you can with what you have where you are using all your faculties to get the job done well and with good results conquering evil and keeping or restoring peace... it does not mean to avoid duty and honor... it does not mean to cower or allow anything
to hinder you in the process of duty according to rules, law and ethics... it means that if the demand takes your earthly life you destroy as much evil as possible in the process.
That is my definition of being safe... doing the best you can and leaving the rest to God or whomever else is responsible... being best employed for the sake and protection of all the things and people that we hold dear.]
I represent, write for… and give the credit to:
God the Father (my Commander-in-Chief),
Jesus Christ the Son (the Eternal Captain of my life) and
the Holy Spirit of God (my Eternal Teacher, Keeper and Guide).
In Christ I live… with Him and for you I serve…
And I rejoice that you are there whether you are Christian or not…
For God, Country and the Peace Keeper…
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
Surviving Peace Keeper,
Virginia State Police Alumni,
RETIRED Police Officer,
RETIRED Police Instructor,
RETIRED Chaplain Administrator,
Chaplain Emeritus,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety),
Virginia Beach Police Dept.
Blackwater Alumni
757-486-3881, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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All rights reserved. This Message:
Is for Peace Keepers and their loved ones and it may be forwarded with the complete message intact to individuals and web sites…
May not be duplicated in print nor publications without permission….
May not be used in any manner for personal financial gain nor profit
without permission.
Except for quoted material attributed to a specific source, all material in CHAPLAIN CORNER is my personal opinion gained from 49 years of working with people in peace keeping and is not to be construed to represent the policies and opinions of any department with whom I have served or am serving.
To subscribe to this free, weekly e-mail message for Peace Keepers,
write to Chaplain D. R. Staton at chpln1@verizon.net or at
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
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