This morning was one of those mornings that reminds me of
why I have chosen to live “out in the boonies”. It was the first cool morning
in a week or so and I shut the air conditioner off and opened the windows. There
are very few things in this world that I enjoy more than listening to the
outside world while drinking my morning coffee with a cool breeze gently
blowing through the window.
The world seemed so calm and quiet it was almost surreal. It
was easy to just let go of everything for a minute and just allow my mind not
to dwell on the issues at hand. For a minute I had no places to go, nothing to
worry about and no one to tell me otherwise. That moment was a good thing and
those moments are probably about all that keep me sane
Those moments of temporary sanity are great because lately
it seems as though the world is spinning out of control. OK, I know I am
sounding like Chicken Little and the sky is not falling, but there are days
when I wonder what our world and society have come too. All one has to do is to
watch the evening news and you wonder what we have degenerated into.
Professions that used to be above reproach and held up as
pillars of society have come under scrutiny and seem to be treated without respect.
Each night it seems as though our law enforcement community is under the
microscope or worse have come under attack. I must admit that I have a couple
of members of my family and many friends who serve in law enforcement and I may
not be the most unbiased source but the lack of respect for the men and women
who protect us is sickening to me.
Sure I have grumbled about the policeman who pulled me over
but after a day or two of reflection I must admit that they had a reason. Even
then I have always had the utmost respect and admiration for those who protect
us daily. They are the ones who run into dangerous situations when all of the
rest of us are running away. All of the law enforcement officers I know only
have the best of intentions and are public servants to the core. That is why it
pains me so greatly to see them targeted and maligned.
I am not sure what we have come to as a society when we
scrutinize the cops first and seem not to worry about the situation they are in
or the criminals who created them. Society seems eager to jump to judgment on
the police action. Police officers, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers must
make split second, life and death decisions with public safety always first and
foremost in their minds.
Sure there are probably a few bad apples in the basket,
there are in every profession. I would guess that there are fewer in law
enforcement than most other jobs. It would be awfully hard to go through the
training and dedication it takes to be in law enforcement and not have the best
of intentions. Thankfully I have not needed law enforcement too many times in
my life but when I have needed them I have appreciated what they have done for
me.
The couple of times I have been in an accident I have found
the deputies or police officers to be kind, courteous and compassionate. Of course I have also treated them with
respect and admiration because I respect the badge they wear. It is a two way street and I know they also
appreciate being treated as a professional. I know they are placed in bad
situations daily and I admire them for keeping their poise and wits during
difficult times.
I, for one, am going to make a greater attempt to show my
appreciation for the brave men and women who protect us. I am so proud of my
cousins and friends who put their lives on the line each day so we can live our
lives without fear. I rest easier each night knowing that if I need help a
caring, competent professional is only a few minutes away. Each of them is
truly heroes in my eyes.
So as I sit here in the early morning peace, meditating on
my last cup of coffee I will say a prayer for all of those who are sacrificing
for each of us. This world may be going crazy and I may not understand all that
is happening but I know that we are all a lot safer because of the brave men
and women who protect us.
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