More Peace...

Peace is not in the hearts of many humans... and because they have no peace,
they are searching for something to satisfy that monstrous hunger within.  This
hunger is worse than a ravenous wolf... a stalking lion...  a circling shark...  It is a
horrible driving force.  Humans try to satisfy it by external means... but that does not
work... it only causes destruction, war, injury and death.

Because so many humans are insatiable there had to be a balance... Legally
constituted authority acceptable to most of the people who live under its rule was
and is the answer...  And the mechanics of it are made up of those who step out of
the herd of humanity to be the buffer between those who want peace and safety
and those who want to take everything for themselves and make slaves or tools of
satisfaction of everyone else.  Every surviving society in history has had a strong
standing army or the society did not survive in a free state.

The standing armies became reduced to local law enforcers for the general
population and armies were used to put down those who revolted against the
constituted authority of the local enforcement... and also to repel national invaders.
Sometimes all levels of this constituted authority became corrupt... revolutions
developed... some governments were toppled, overthrown and replaced...
but often these were either immediately corrupt... or soon became corrupt.
Power brings with it terrible temptations... temptations which some do not want
to resist... power and companions that eventually lose the detestable quality
because of familiarity... and authority is corrupted again.

This process is the reason most civilizations have risen and fallen in a
comparatively short time.  Kings of every variety abound in history... from the best
of the best to the worst of the worst.  Lackadaisical kings who trusted their generals
were soon to be replaced by the strongest general... and this process repeated
over and over until the present time.

We in the United States of America are the last and greatest experiment of this
process of people wanting peace and safety... and constituting the legal authority
to be responsible for that peace and safety.  We have come far using constables,
sheriffs, marshals, armies, navies, mechanized forces, flying forces and local
forces designed to cover the needs of the population, locally, in villages, towns,
cities, counties, states and nationally.  These forces are constituted of people who
handle every kind of job... logistics, communications, enforcement, courts, jails,
prisons...  repelling of invaders nationally... assisting our allies when they are
attacked... resisting despotism and tyranny wherever the awful enemy of peace
arises and the people under its grinding heel cannot do for themselves that which
needs to be done to restore peace and safety.

All of these are the people I call Peace Keepers... from the smallest town or village
with one law enforcement officer to the largest  departments with thousands of
officers, sheriffs and deputies, jailers, bailiffs, courts, prosecutors, judges and all of
the support staffs for each of these... from small elite specialized military units to
whole armies and navies with all of the logistics personnel and support staff
necessary in order to function well... THESE ARE THE ONES I CALL PEACE
KEEPERS.  ALL OF MY LIFE I HAVE ADMIRED AND LEARNED WHAT I COULD
ABOUT ALL OF THESE WHO HAVE, AND STILL DO, PROVIDE PEACE AND SAFETY.

First I learned about them when my father was drafted in 1945... then I learned to
read, go to movies, listen to radio... from preteen and all through high school you
would often find a book under my nose or sticking out of my pocket... I explored
history and the world this way.  I also learned about the force of greater strength
from older boys, bullies and a very strict father and mother... all of these formed my
early years... very little love and care as it is spoken of today... but all lessons
learned by experience.  An education learned by experience will either teach you
how to avoid those hard lesson forces... or it will draw you into the same habits as
those who forced their ideas and wills upon you... so that you will either do the
same to others or go to whatever length necessary to stop those harsh lessons
from being forced upon others who are not able to defend themselves against the
harsh forces.

Those who have succeeded in law enforcement learned what needed to be done
so that peace and safety could flourish... and then they made it their life's work to get the
job done as much as it depended upon them... and they are never happy when they
cannot be doing the job for peace and safety.  When it cannot be done one way...
they do it another... much of that activity today is manifested in people becoming
law enforcers, military or security contractors... and the world as we know it
cannot live without them... not now... AND NOT EVER!!!

Long ago I knew there had to be a personal connection with God.  I began my search at the age of seven.  I sought, I read, I learned, I applied my education.  I graduated and began trying to find my niche in this world.  I became a husband and father but something was still missing. The next real life fulfilling I experienced was as a Peace Keeper.  Then I had to find my connection to my Creator through dealing personally with Jesus Christ.  Tomorrow we celebrate His resurrection the world over.  I found my re-creation and resurrection in Him forty years ago this month and He trained me and put me back into peace keeping.  Now I celebrate His resurrection every day... Not just on the day others call Easter.

I believe in PEACE AND SAFETY with all of my being.  I am a man of Peace... unless someone tries to take peace and safety from someone else in my presence... then I will use any method from gentle to hard to protect the innocent and to restore Peace.  Some have thought my white Clergy collar to be a symbol of pacifism and acted upon their assumption.  Boy, were they surprised when they wound up on the ground face down under my knee in the small of their back and my long flashlight across their neck in such a way as to make movement painful... or impossible to accomplish.  They were not injured... just immobilized... and surprised.  One said, "Hey, you are a preacher, you are not supposed to do that (while he was on the ground under my knee and light)."  My response was simple and plain... "Hey, you are under arrest... You are not supposed to run!"

Today, as every day, I asked my Commander-In-Chief for His direction.  He knows my heart and my dreams far, far better than I do.  Recently, He closed several of those dreams with a definite "NO"!!!  Today He fills my inquiries with other instructions... Mine is a life of PREPARATION AND RESPONSE  just as it is supposed to be... and just as each of yours is supposed to be.

I read of the lives of the contractors in Iraq... and I ask, "Should I be there?"  The answer is clear, "NO".  I visit my mountains and I ask, "May I be here?"  The answer comes back clear and plain, "NOT NOW!"  I examine my dreams and goals and I ask, "Which course?"  The answer is just as plain, "Do what you have been assigned to do and what you know to do.  Take advantage of every opportunity and continue... Leave the rest to Me or whomever is responsible."  I occasionally dream of my career as a Virginia State Trooper... My officers ask, "Do you ever miss it?"  My standard answer is, "Only every day."  I think on the speaking engagement I had with a local military group... If I had my choice I would be ecstatic doing that particular duty often... even daily would be OK with me.  I think of my career here with VBPD and am still saddened that the law says I cannot be a police officer here anymore.  All of this signified a major change... A major change coming from my Commander-In-Chief... and with faith and gladness I look forward to His way and His direction.  I may not always be personally happy with it, but I have learned to go with the course and watch for good results.  Good results always come when I follow His way.

I am like a ship of old times... launched and aiming in a known direction... just not knowing the details of the trip ahead but willing to trust the pilot at the wheel to take
us on the proper course.  Every day each Peace Keeper embarks upon a new course.  No two days are ever alike.  Seldom are two incidents alike. 

In that vein, my thoughts turn to each of you... today each of you embarked upon this day just as I did... all of us traveling in the same way... aiming for a destination... but
never knowing all the details ahead of time...  BUT MAKING THE TRIP BECAUSE WE HAVE PREPARED... AND WE WILL RESPOND TO EACH SITUATION AS
WE ARE INVOLVED IN THEM... BECAUSE WE HAVE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE NEED FOR PEACE AND SAFETY.  Some of us are paid to
do this activity... from very poorly paid to quite handsomely paid... and some of us are  REALLY NUTS... SOME OF US DO IT FOR NO PAY AT ALL FROM THOSE
WE PROTECT AND SERVE... because we must do it... and we cannot help ourselves... but this includes all of us who put ourselves into this job of being Peace
Keepers... WE ALL VOLUNTEERED FOR THE JOB... WE ARE NOT LIVING IF WE CANNOT DO THE JOB... OR IN SOME WAY SUPPORT AND ASSIST THOSE
WHO DO THE JOB.

Whether your job is as a contractor making the trip as a body guard from the airport
to the green zone... or as a military person manning a turret gun, a guard tower, riding
in a protective convoy... ducking bullets, rockets and grenades...
Or a a law enforcement officer patrolling a lonely stretch of rural road... patrolling a
residential area jammed with the underprivileged or in a spread out, placid and
quiet suburban residential area... patrolling a freeway or an Interstate... walking a
beat... sitting on surveillance... planning a raid... making a SWAT action... saddling
up on a bike, motor or a horse... NO MATTER the place or course of your action and
duty...  You are the raw material of our freedom!  Without you being there and doing your duty we will have no life and no nation as we know it in this moment!

I look in my mind's eye at the Peace Keepers of the centuries... I see the faces set like stone and determined... Marching to an unknown future... Rolling forward to a date with destiny... A date to see to the welfare of someone else and not themselves... I mourn with the families of the 300 marching to the gates of fire... With the waves of troops landing at
Normandy from where my ancestors migrated... With those who ran silent and deep beneath the waves looking for the silent enemy who is trying to destroy our ability to make war on them...

I hurt with the nausea of the unknown at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Chosen Reservoir... I feel the fleeting moment in the life of each one who comprises today's stats about the wounded and the dead...

Yes, I chose to be here where I am... But just as surely... It chose me... And I must say that all I did was respond to the life long call of my Commander-In-Chief when I learned how to do that... I needed that education before we made personal contact and that  marvelous education has continued as I have been one among you.  My deepest thanks to all of your predecessors and to each of you.  No man has ever been blessed with more effective, nor more pleasurable company... And the marvelous thought that just illuminated for me is that I will always be in your company.  Like the contractors who had to get back into
the fight in order to live with themselves... I know that I, too, will always be in the fight somewhere.

Some will ask why this preacher can't just be satisfied with preaching?... A preacher must associate with the congregation to which he is called or sent... And I have been sent to you... I must serve where I am appointed just as each of you must... And I have found that my most peaceful, safest, pleasurable place to be is exactly where I am appointed to be even if all hell is happening there all around me... I am most happy and most at peace when I am functioning exactly where I am designed to function.  I know that most of you are the very same way about yourselves!  We are Peace Keepers!  We can do no other and live ... We can do other and exist... But existing is not living... We must be Peace Keepers if we want to truly live.

As always...  Wherever your field of battle... Come home when your tour is over... We all love you and need you.  Take the best of care for every part of you... Body, mind, emotions and spirit.  You cannot really live if you do not do this for yourself...  No one else can do it for you.

If I could I would gladly be where you are to give you a hand clasp of friendship and appreciation... And a hug of the deepest respect and pride in you for who you are and for
what you do.  My Commander-In-Chief and I are eternally thankful.

Last week I added a comment, "...or if you just wish to encourage me."... and I received several deeply inspiring answers that were just to encourage me.... Thanks to all who responded.  You may never comprehend how much those responses meant to me.

"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 it, 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...
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
Surviving Peace Keeper,
Virginia State Police Alumni,
RETIRED Police Officer Virginia Beach Police Dept.,
DCJS Certified Police Instructor,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety)
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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