Tuesday, June 12, 2018

What might be our purpose as Chaplains and human beings?

As a Franciscan, Catholic Priest, and Law Enforcement Chaplain, for me the life of St Francis has been an inspiration in my own life.

But also has Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Both had removed all possessions (former by choice, the latter by force)  that got in the way of treating people (all people) as human beings first.  The end result is both were transformed to respect all life - in whatever form.

For me it has been invaluable as a law enforcement chaplain where the individuals I serve are of all races, all beliefs (including a majority being agnostic).  I have learned to accept people where they are, whoever they are, and treat all with dignity and respect.

Henry Nouwen is one of the spiritual masters I have read, but also there are some Catholic greats like Fr  Richard Rohr, St John XXIII, and St John Paul II.  But recently the Catholic individual who has most influenced my law enforcement chaplaincy and ministry is St Mother Theresa.  

One of my favorite quotes she shared while serving the poorest of the poor in Calcutta - "If you judge people, you have no time to love them".   I also consider St Mother Theresa somewhat an unofficial patron saint of Law Enforcement Chaplains.

Because just as she described to her Mother Superior when describing why she wanted to leave the convent - that she had "received a 'call' within a 'call'", so too, many Law Enforcement Chaplains are Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, and Imams who serve their own flocks, they too receive a 'call' within a 'call' to serve Law Enforcement.  This means as a Chaplain, they begin to see their faith not as the "only way”,Matthew Fox describes in the title of his book "One River, Many Wells".  Our column of faith may have brought us to Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, but it is other's columns of faiths which we must learn to serve, respecting the individual.  For me as a Christian, and the New Testatment Scripture which is a cornerstone of our Chaplain Program in our jurisdiction:

"Finally, all of you live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic and
love as brothers [and sisters]; be compassionate, and humble"  1 Peter 3:8

My life has been enriched as a Catholic, a Priest, a Franciscn, a human being, and especially as a Law Enforcement Chaplain, in understanding of what it means to love unconditionally.

It has given new meaning for me in serving others with His only two Commandments, which are almost universal in all faiths - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and body, and love your neighbor as yourself".

Unconditional love for all persons... that is at the heart ♥️ of our work as human beings and as Chaplains.