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’s 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.
I have been surveying the news sources... reading the internet blogs and outlets... Who are we to believe? I evaluated quite a while back to find a path in our times for me. In all that has and is taking place in our world I see that it is still the Peace Keeper committed to peace and justice that is the only human hope that is holding our world together and holding evil in check. I have no comments on the politics of our nation or our time. I am here to support and encourage the Peace Keeper. The only message I have is for Life, Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness and the right to live as one chooses to live as long as he does not violate the rights of someone else in his process. I know many things. What I know is what I have experienced. If I have any facts in my possession that I have not personally experienced, I only know about them until I can apply them and have them work in my own life.
I am as a man born out of his time. In my own mind and in the minds of some others, such as my deceased wife, I would have fit much better in an earlier time. I am from a time that was so different from this time that it is hard to fathom... Yet here I am. I am as the one who cried out in the wilderness described himself... "A voice seeking to gain the attention of the people of my time..." and most do not want to hear or be told what the message is. The common cry is, "Don't confuse me with information, I have my mind made up and I will go my way." When I take a stand for the Peace Keepers, with some people it is a very unpopular position to take. When I take a stand for my Eternal Captain that is usually not popular either.
Most of us are being assaulted with much information every day. Much of it is difficult for us to personally put to use. Some of it is too costly for us to personally put to use. Some of the information we cannot put to use unless we band ourselves together with others who have the desire to accomplish some like goal such as a political party.
I must evaluate much information that I cannot immediately put to any kind of use but can only file it away and watch until more information that works with that on file is revealed to me. In the midst of all of this flood of information I must still live and handle the problems of each event and each day. My Immediate goal is life as it comes and living it to the very best of my ability. I suppose you could look at my life and call it crisis living because the course for me is to live as best I am able and to help others in need, when I am able and allowed to assist, to do the same.
This week I called in a report to my daughter's surgeon on her wound condition. I received a return call requesting me to bring her in and let him evaluate the wound. In the office we looked at the wound together. I pointed out the difficult areas and problems that needed his attention. He asked my daughter if she wanted to go back to the hospital or if she wanted him to do it in the office under local? She chose then and there under local. I assisted him and watched his magnificent hands in the most efficient, tender, compassionate action I have ever watched. He was so smooth and gentle that it was a wonder just to watch his hands and instruments function. He did exactly what I would have done if I had been in his place and we are very happy with the outcome. The open wound is now so much easier to care for. The good news is that she suffered no worse doing it this way than she has suffered being an in-patient and staying one or two nights in the hospital.
I am designing a new regimen of rest, herbs, vitamins, minerals, food and exercise to help pull me out of the constant fatigue that life and stress have dealt to me these past months. The last couple days have been much better for me. The wound care is going to be easier for both of us. All of these things taken together are easing the load on me plus I am reapplying some old knowledge to help myself recover as I have done many times before. The most difficult part of being a Peace Keeper, a Peace Maker or a Care Giver is remembering to take care of yourself while you provide care for others.
In our world things change so quickly that if you are out of service for any long period of time it requires re-acclimating and almost completely starting over until you get back into the regimen of performance.
Bombs are still exploding and killing in Iraq. Afghanistan is a quagmire. Pakistan is quickly becoming a problem with which our nation and our world will have to deal. Our highways, streets and roads are still the scenes of much injury and death. Crime and killing are loose and stalking victims in streets and homes. Will it ever end?...
Probably not as long as there are at least two people still living in the immediate proximity of each other anywhere in this world. What keeps it from getting so out of balance that there is more mass murder and more blatant thievery than we already have?...
The only effective check, ever, will be the Peace Keeper using the Rule of Law and Justice to protect the innocent and bring the perpetrators to justice for their actions. The Peace Keeper is indispensable in our society today. No civilized society can exist without them because peace and morality will not last unless there are those who will dedicate their lives to the good and welfare of others to see that actions of people are kept in proper check and improper actions are dealt with as speedily as possible. Peace keeping requires commitment, dedication, training, practice and participation on a continuous basis. Peace keeping is not just a job... It is a way of life... And often it consumes those who enter into it in some way or another. Much learning and constant vigilance are required by those who are Peace Keepers to last, to be effective and to survive the profession.
I have dedicated my life to trying to be of encouragement and assistance to any Peace Keeper who might need anything I can give to them. I started in this profession 47 years ago... I have progressed through it... And have survived to offer assistance to those who might recognize that they have a need and allow someone who has been where they are to help them survive and last.
Thank You Peace Keepers, each of you and all of you, past and present... You are the raw material of our nation... You are the wall of defense between each of us and the evil that would come out of our world and attack us... You will always be our best and lasting defense. My Commander-In-Chief and I are most thankful that you are there. Time and again, the Peace Keepers of the day came to John the Baptist, Jesus and to the Apostles. In each case they were encouraged and their needs for action or information were met. The Peace Keepers were encouraged... They were not ridiculed nor put down for who they were not for what they did in keeping the peace.
So now... Again... And again... And again... And again still... I must always fulfill my dedication to you and once more say... "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 you. Your spirit must be strong for you to be successful.
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.
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 Virginia Beach Police Dept.,
Senior Chaplain and Chaplain Administrator VBPD,
DCJS Certified Police Instructor,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety) VBPD
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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