ADVENTURE

–noun
an exciting or very unusual experience.
participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.
a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.
–verb (used with object)
to risk or hazard.
to take the chance of; dare.
to venture to say or utter: to adventure an opinion.
–verb (used without object)
to take the risk involved.
to venture; hazard.

Being a Peace Keeper is the most adventurous life available in this world today.  No two days are ever alike.  No two events are ever alike.  No two people ever respond to you the exact same way.  Nothing is ever routine and we must never fall into the trap of considering anything routine.

As I sit here thinking about you and how valuable you are to our way of life I am reminded of a public relations announcer that was covering the event that I worked this morning as a member of the Recruiting Team.  He told the crowd to come by and thank me as I was there to offer information and the possibilities of a career in law enforcement if any one were interested... but he said, "Whether you are interested or not... just go by and say thank you to him for all of the effort that he and our police officers have spent providing peace and safety for the rest of us and making our city a safe place to live and play."

In my unique situation of life and work I am blessed to have jobs that I love... One, of being a Chaplain to Peace Keepers that I do for the love that my Commander-In-Chief and I have for the Peace Keepers that I serve... Two, for the job I love to do as a Community Services Officer for the peace, safety and welfare of the people in my city, citizens and visitors... and Three, being a member of the Police Recruiting Team appearing in places and events where we try and attract the attention of potential law enforcement personnel for our department.

People are the material with which we must work... Peace and safety are the services that  must be promoted in each of our jobs.  Some few cases are time consuming... Most cases are interesting and most cases present some kind of challenge to come up with solutions and services that will meet the need and promote peace and safety.
Sometimes that translates to safety sitting with a broken-down vehicle in a dangerous portion of road... or in a place where services are not readily available and must come from a distance.  Sometimes I must sit  at a situation of a wire pulled down by a truck leaving the wire blocking a busy street or a fairly active residential area which I had to do twice this past week.

All of the duties in which we are involved in law enforcement whether it is a parking ticket, traffic violation, criminal arrest or removing an abandoned vehicle... Every action is part of the duty that preserves peace and safety.

Whether your military duty is the supply or mechanical repair person or the soldier, on foot on the ground or in a vehicle of some kind... jeep, truck, Humvee, ship, airplane, helicopter or however else you travel... Our jobs still involve people as the material with which we work and peace and safety are the provisions that we give in our services.

This marvelous project of peace and safety involves all of us... From the recruiter to the supply officer... From the call taker and dispatcher to the service provider on the street... From the logistics planner to the personnel making the run, doing the patrol, standing the watch, being shot at or doing the shooting.

Yes, some parts of this duty we all serve is more dangerous than others... Yes, some of us must do things that very few others will ever have to do... Yes, sometimes the duty is hazardous and stinks... Yes, sometimes the task should have been handled by someone else but they did not do it and it fell to you because you would take it and see to the successful completion of what must be done...

Peace Keepers... that is why I love you and respect you so very, very deeply.  I have been in this endeavor for 45 years... In fact today is the anniversary of that 45th year...
And I have been most observant of all that goes on around me... I have noted the doers... I have noted the ones who do more than is expected... I have developed a great admiration for those of you who take the duty and do it whether it is pleasant or not.  I have watched... I have learned... Some lessons were by grand example of what to do... Other lessons were by powerful example of what not to do.

As I thought on you this morning during prayer time... As I think on you today as I am writing... As I think on you as I read the news of your exploits and of what it sometimes costs you to be where you are doing what has to be done... I marvel in my thoughts that such people are here today still doing all that it takes to promote and preserve this country just as our Founding Fathers and the Peace Keepers of their day were there to get us started.

You are mighty people... Peace Keepers... You are mighty people.  It may be that very few citizens know this about you but I know... And I humbly give thanks to you and for you.  That special spirit that caused us to start well as a nation is still alive and well in each of you who are still there doing those distasteful jobs that must be done in order for us to survive and prosper as a nation.  If you were not there doing what you are doing... or doing what you have done in times past... we would soon cease to exist as we know this fine nation today... The United States of America would slowly, but soon, slip beneath the waves of time and history if it were not for all of you and each of you.

I listen to my radio on duty... and I know what you do with those calls to which you are assigned.  I read the news... and I know how vital your actions are to the continuance of our way of life as well as for the peace and safety of most of the world.

You are here at a vital time and in a vital place... and you serve well. 

Our predecessors handed the responsibility to us as they left the field.  They had done the best that they could do and it became our turn.  Now you are still doing that same fine job that began this nation.  You are serving well.  You are our first and last line of progress and defense.  You are serving well.

As long as I am here you will have an advocate and someone who is praying for your success in peace keeping.

"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!"  Always be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary.  These are the keys to life for a Peace Keeper... Plus another vital key... Take the very best possible care of you as you perform your duty and live your private life.  In addition, there is still one other most vital key... Your spiritual life... See to the very best of care of it for it must be strong in order for you to be as successful as it is possible to be.

Call or write if I may be of any service.

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...
And I rejoice that you are there whether you are Christian or not...
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
=================================================
All rights reserved.  May not be duplicated without permission, except
to be forwarded with 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.

If you are a Peace Keeper you may subscribe to 
the BLACKWATER TACTICAL NEWSLETTER  by going to the 
website at BLACKWATER USA.