As some of you know, my neighbor has been getting a lot of West side APD attention lately with an eviction and a couple domestic calls last week. The last visit was another domestic disturbance call because the property owner was not enforcing her own criminal trespass order. I went outside to see what was going on and waved down an officer to tell him about the now-homeless people sleeping under the new junk pile in my yard. The officer explained what was going on and said, “I just got back from vacation, and this is what I get to deal with.” Thankfully all of the domestic calls to that address last week were more nuisance calls than dangerous calls, but I can only imagine that calls like this are drudgery. But please hear this from a next-door neighbor that has to live next to drugs, prostitution, frequent disturbances and a trashy yard...THANK YOU for answering calls for service and dealing with messes like this. Because of the Tarrant constables serving and eviction notice and APD’s 10 criminal trespasses and frequent visits, the place next to mine is slowly being cleaned up.
   
I am thankful for the job you do serving my neighborhood, my church and my family, and I believe you are true pros who handle everything well from the mundane drudgery to putting your life on the line. I pray for you each week and another of my regular prayers is for recognition and promotion on the job. King Solomon once said, “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.” That is my prayer for you this week as you continue to serve with excellence: may you be respected, recognized and promoted by your chain of command.
   
Your service is appreciated, 
Pastor Rob

Friday and Saturday are my RDOs. Saturdays are generally filled with “family work” like fixing/cleaning things around the house, grocery shopping with my wife (our old person’s date!) and paying bills. There is also the work I do for my side business and often some sort of preparation for Sunday’s church service. But Friday...Friday is supposed to be my day off. I say supposed to be my day off because I’m not real good at days off. Friday has often been a catch up day for all the stuff I “should do” or “need to do”. I have tried to “compromise” and “just do a little” or “work at my leisure”, but I found what May Sarton said to be true. I found my psyche (or my soul) was not resting and that definitely takes a toll over time. There is a HUGE difference between a working day off and a day with no expectations to produce anything. 
   
My pastor (who is also my boss) has talked to me about this idea. He reminded me that remembering the Sabbath is literally one of the 10 Commandments. In Hebrew culture, the Sabbath was not just about “going to church”. There was definitely an emphasis on the Lord’s day and honoring Him, but there was also a requirement of physical rest from all work. It was later explained that the sabbath was created for man, not man for the sabbath. It wasn’t about following a rule for the sake of rule following, it was about understanding the principle that the human body was created with a need for rest. It seems, on our own, we are often slow in figuring this out, so Somebody had to tell us!
   
Each week I pray for your safety on the job and favor with the community you serve. This week, I am praying for your regular days off. May you find the peace and refreshment that comes only by setting aside a day of rest without the expectation of producing anything. 
   
Your service is appreciated,
Pastor Rob

I remember a ride out I did several years ago. It was a strange call where somebody from out of state said their daughter was in danger in an abusive relationship, so APD went to investigate. From what I could observe, it seemed the daughter was not in danger and the situation was some sort of on-going family dispute where the parents didn’t like the boyfriend. The daughter seemed fine and explained the situation, but the boyfriend must have had enough harassment from her parents, because he took his frustration out on the officers (verbally). Once he got going, his girlfriend, whom the officers were just trying to check on and/or help, joined in. I do not know how the officer I was riding with kept such a cool head and did not respond.
   
As we got back in the car, I asked the officer about how he stayed so calm. He said it comes with the job, he doesn’t always do it that well, but he tries to give people the benefit of the doubt because he does not know what all people are dealing with, tries to not take it personally and do what he has to do. I know that is what is required of you on your job, but I was impressed because this guy not only did his job, he just didn’t get upset.
   
That day was not the only time I have seen an officer refuse to be provoked, but something about the peace the officer had driving away from that call stuck with me.  What if I put as much effort into not taking things so personally, giving people the benefit of the doubt when I don’t know all they are dealing with and try not to take it personally? What would that do for my marriage? In our family’s dynamic? For my friends?
   
My prayer for you this week is that you are successful in not being provoked on the job (may it bug the snot out of those trying to provoke you!) May you also be provoked less outside of work and may your relationships be stronger and richer for it. 

Your service is appreciated,
Pastor Rob