NEW AMERICAN TRUTH: November 2007

Chaplain's Message: Why?
From Chaplain Don Staton

TO AND FOR PEACE KEEPERS OF THE MILITARY AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AT ALL LEVELS AND ALL OF THOSE IN THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND ALL WHO CARE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WELFARE.

CHAPLAIN CORNER IS DEDICATED TO ALL PEACE KEEPERS, CURRENT AND RETIRED, THOSE LIVING NOW... AND THOSE WHO HAVE PRECEDED US AND PASSED ON FROM THIS EARTHLY SCENE. MY TERM PEACE KEEPER COVERS ALL SECURITY, JAIL AND PRISON ATTENDANTS WHATEVER THE TITLE; LAW ENFORCEMENT AT ALL LEVELS INCLUDING JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS; MILITARY IN WHATEVER BRANCH; AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEM PERSONNEL FOR ALL CATEGORIES IN WHATEVER COUNTRY OF THIS WORLD YOU HAPPEN TO BE. YOU ARE VITAL TO OUR WORLD AND MY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND I CARE GREATLY FOR AND ABOUT YOU. YOU ARE THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTNESS IN THIS WORLD... AND THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT COULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT YOU!!!

IN ADDITION IT IS FOR THE PEACE MAKERS OF THIS WORLD. SOMETIMES THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE AS PEACE KEEPERS... SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT... BUT PEACE MAKERS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY AS ARE PEACE KEEPERS NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT.

PRAYERS ARE SAID DAILY FOR ALL WHO HAVE REQUESTED MY PRAYERS... FOR ALL FOR WHOM I HAVE PROMISED TO PRAY... FOR ALL FOR WHOM I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO PRAY... FOR PEACE KEEPERS... FOR FIREFIGHTERS... FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL... DOCTORS... NURSES... TEACHERS... COUNSELORS... AND ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND ALL OF THE LOVED ONES OF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE... FOR LEADERS OF THE WORLD... LEADERS OF THE CHURCH... AND FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS... PLUS YOU ARE INCLUDED IF YOU ARE READING THIS MATERIAL.

Why?

This question comes often in conversations between me and others.

Some are just inquisitive... Why I do what I do?

Some are people who are being helped... Why would I take the risk? Why would I go to that effort for them? Why would I enter into another's pain and problems when I have no personal nor economical interest?

Some are people who object to what I am doing at the moment... These never understand the reasons behind enforcement of laws and they do not want to understand. They just want to ask," Why is it being done to me specifically?" Most do not really want to know the answer... They are just venting their anger and/or frustration at my actions.

As recently as this week someone wanted to know why I am a Chaplain... Why I have been involved with law enforcement over the past forty five years... "How did you know this was what you were supposed to do? How did it happen?"

The strange part of all of these questions is that if they have to ask, they will seldom understand the answer even when it is given to them as clearly as possible.

How do you know you are called to be a minister?
-----a chaplain?
----------a Trooper?
---------------a Police Officer?
--------------------a soldier... a sailor... a pilot.... a Marine?...
And when I give the answer to those questions that apply to my life they look at me in bewilderment and the great question mark of the incomprehensible is indelibly fixed upon their faces. Usually the only one who understands is another person who has answered such a call.

I know that many people choose to go into one of the listed professions but my comments do not apply to all of those who choose to enter... My comments apply only to those who could never do anything else with their lives and be happy.

My wife, children, parents and extended family never understood. Most of my parishioners never understood. Many law enforcement officers with whom I have worked never understood. Many law enforcement officers that I worked with, or knew, quit law enforcement and went to other jobs or professions. They were not happy in the depths of their souls. There was no pleasure nor satisfaction within and they had to go searching for what would satisfy them.

Many go into the profession of Clergy... Many quit the Clergy and go to other jobs and other professions.

When there is no peace within the depths of the human soul and spirit, it is extremely hard for the person to be happy and satisfied. The restless soul must find solace. Seeking and experimenting is necessary if the human ever wants to understand the fullness of satisfaction in the life of human experience. There may be many places in life where we can fit... There is likely only one or two that will fit the human and fill the heart, soul and spirit with satisfaction. For some of us it one thing at one stage of life and something different at another stage of life.

We may fit and function in many different places, jobs or professions... But there may be only one... or two... Or only one at a specific stage in life that fits us and is so made for us that we know that we have found our place to fit into the life that goes on around us.

I have known many who sought all of their lives and never found their place. I observed my own father seek many ways to be alive and happy but he never truly found his place... He was always looking for something he could never find. Because he was so empty and had so much internal pain that he could not deal with, he tried to drown out the emptiness with alcohol... consuming ever more and greater amounts until the alcohol could no longer deaden the pain... And the pain drove him to the death of suicide. I suspected for years that it would have to be that way for him because he would not allow anyone to talk with him nor allow anyone to help him. He was an empty, lonely, very quiet man when sober. He was an entirely different man when he was intoxicated... fun seeking, outgoing and seeking attention... but always ending up with the wrong kind of attention... or winding up so sick from too much alcohol that he wanted to die.

When we had our aptitude tests in high school, the counselor said to me, "You are qualified for three things... engineering... law enforcement... and ministry."

I was too young for law enforcement so I was preparing for a career in engineering. I would not accept that I could ever go into ministry because no one around me would or could explain any of the spiritual realm to me so that I could put it to use. I had asked... I had sought... I had neither found nor received any usable answers.

I did well in engineering until the time came that there was something different going on inside me... At the age of 22... The hunger to become a Trooper took root and began to grow inside me. My wife would have none of it ... But it would not go away. Instead of going away it became so strong as to take over my life, desires and thoughts. I applied... took the test with 40 people... 10 passed... 5 were hired. I was one of the five but my vision failed. A noted Ophthalmologist told me to do something else... "Here take these new glasses and give up your dream!"... But the dream would not go away! It had to be satisfied... I could see the vision of those two Troopers in my early life that looked as big as mountains to me then... and still hold a very special place in my memories.

One day I discovered a way to change my vision momentarily... I told a friend who was an Optometrist about my discovery. He said that I had just proven a theory he always believed... "Come to my office and let's do some experimenting!" I did.

We found a way to work with my eyes. I followed what we discovered and was able to pass the eye exam and go to Field training and Basic Training. I knew this was where I must fit and it filled me with peace, power and excitement.

After five years I found there was something else that I needed... There was an emptiness inside... I knew it had to do with God and no one where I was could give me a usable answer. I left law enforcement for a short time to seek the answer... I found the answer a few months later through a man I had previously known as a rounder but who was now known as being extremely religious... (He introduced me and my wife to the person of Jesus Christ...) Received amazing answers to a prayer for help... Returned to engineering in order to live while I was learning... Was called to ministry... Received training and began to grow in Grace and Favor.

Subsequently I was called to be a chaplain to the police department in Virginia Beach, became a Chaplain and an Auxiliary Police Officer and went back to work in law enforcement. I saw amazing results with people who were violators of law and who were deeply involved in problems and I knew I was back home. My search was over and my heart and life were full of peace and satisfaction accompanied by a hunger to be working on the streets with the officers and to be on call when not actually on duty. During those days I was a pastor in a new, small church, a Police Chaplain, an Auxiliary Police Officer and I was self employed in engineering in order to make enough money to live and support my family. I knew I was back home no matter what it took to be there.

I have served six different congregations in this city since coming back into law enforcement thirty one years ago... Been self employed in several professions and businesses besides the churches and the police department during that time. I was forced to retire from being a Police Officer, because of age, over two years ago but was requested to continue to be the administrator of the Police Chaplain Program for the police department. In addition, I am now a Community Services Officer working for and with the police department, patrolling the streets assisting and working with the very same officers that I serve as chaplain. No man could be more blessed because I know that I am just where I am supposed to be at this moment in time.

During these 31 years I have had a son killed in a truck crash... My wife died from a conglomeration of diseases that had disabled her for many years requiring constant care and the need for me to run Hemodialysis on her here at home for her last year of life. I have participated in the Memorial Services for far too many Police Officers... Some who died by their own hands... Some in the line of Duty... And some from debilitating disease. Hours have been spent with police families in surgery waiting rooms... in their homes... in hospital rooms... in emergency rooms. Numerous times holding bloody hands of officers... sitting with them at home... Patrolling with them in the cars... Or just being a presence standing by to help and comfort as the need arose.

Why do I do this?

Why are you where you are at this moment? What is your story?

I do all that I do because it is where I fit and function best. I know this because I would not be here unless directed here to the very last place in this world where I ever wanted to live. Many times in my young life I would come here visiting and I would say give it back to the Indians. I don't want anything to do with it... But I prayed for His will and a way to feed my family and this is where all the opportunities opened up for me immediately after the prayer. He answered my prayer and moved me here from Northern Virginia.

Are you where you fit? Do you fit where you are? If not, then you really need to find where you fit.

Here I am, 31 years later, having lived a full life and career and glad to have been here. Several times I sought for other jobs that I thought were opportunities for further service outside the area but I always prayed for the will of my Commander-In-Chief to be made clear and plain to me. One job that I wanted greatly opened up for me in the late 80's but I found that I could not go even after the job was given to me...

Deep inside I knew I had to stay here. Thirty one years... and I am still here where I need to be and the last place where I wanted to be... But as happy and at peace within my spirit as it is possible for a human to be when he knows what I have learned and experienced.

I serve as a Chaplain because it is where I fit...
I am a Bible/Discipleship teacher because it is where I fit...
I can be an Evangelist any time requested to do so because it is where I fit...
I served as a Law Enforcement Officer for all of those years because it is where I fit...
I serve as a Community Services Officer because it is where I fit.

After last week's message you know how I feel about the law and the enforcement of it.

The law... learning it and enforcing it... was my preparation to bring me to see the greater need that must be met in, for and through me. That need was spiritual and it was fulfilled... brought me to more learning and training... brought me to more fulfillment... and brought me back to the law in a new dual role... Enforcing it and ministering to the people who enforce it plus ministering to the people with whom law enforcement must work as they are victims or perpetrators. Ministering to the field of law enforcement brought me to know and love many Peace Keepers of other fields of endeavor in local, State, Federal, Corrections, Military, Security Contractors and in all of the support systems for all of these. I now call all of these Peace Keepers and I am greatly proud to be among you. I thank God that I know why I am here!

I pray that you have the same deep knowledge that you are just where you are supposed to be!!!

I thank you for who you are and for what you do and have done. This world would be a terrible place in which to live if it were not for people like you in it. There would be no life in this world as we know it if it were not for all of you and each of you. I am here to be available to you should you ever need it because my Commander-In-Chief cares so very deeply about you as a group most valuable... and for each of you individually.

Call or write if I may be of any service to you. Thanks for all of the responses that you have given to me concerning prior messages.

"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!" ALWAYS BE ALERT, WATCHFUL, SUSPICIOUS AND WARY!!! You never know what any person is going to do when you approach them. Take the very best of care of you as you care for others. See to your spiritual needs. Your spirit needs to be strong for good success.

As it has always been... So it still is...

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

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...
D. R. (Don) Staton,
Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ALUMNI,
RETIRED Police Officer,
Certified Police Instructor,
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

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Copyright: CHAPLAIN CORNER (DRS) 2006. All rights reserved.
May not be duplicated without permission, except to be forwarded with copyright and all source information for any quotation intact.

To subscribe to this free 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.