How wonderful is life! How many of us take this wonderful life for granted? We allow the everyday work and stress take away the wonder of it all.
Just to have a mind is a wonder, to be able to think and reason, to be able to read and to write, to be able to see and hear, to be able to love and be loved, to be able to work and earn a living for our families is a wonder in this wonderful world.
Have you taken time to see the beauty of the world this time of year; the yards and gardens, the mountains and valleys, the sky and the sun in the clear morning, or a full moon once a month? These are the wonderful things that surround us daily, and we take them for granted.
The wonder of health is such a big thing in life. If you are healthy, you are truly blessed. When we dwell on the negative or bad it robs our minds and lives of these blessings. The word blessed in the Bible means “happy”. Happy is the men, women or children who are blessed.
Oh, the wonder of good relationships and friends! A friend is someone you let into your life and its dreams and activities; someone you are happy to be around and spend time with. A friend is someone you can confide in and seek counsel from. A friend, true friend, is a great influence in your life. Because true friendship is about trust and honor, good friends are hard to come by and should be valued very highly. You trust each other and honor them for who they are, not what they can do for you.
The human being is a wonderful creation of God, put on this earth to have purpose and to be a good steward of the world around us. We are to be fruitful and multiply. We are to live and let live. We are to give and receive. We were created to love and be loved.
The world is so full of negative, unhappy people with no purpose. Or, maybe their purpose is to make others unhappy. But, we with good minds and good purpose have another mission. Yes, a mission, to make this world and those around us feel good about our creation. It takes very little to be positive and smile at others. It takes very little to be kind and considerate.
Oh, the wonder of it all! Each of us will be on this earth limited years. Why waste them? Find your place and make your mark. Live out your dreams by desire, determination, and discipline. Most people have so much potential but never reach it because of the fear of failure. Turn your setbacks into comebacks. You are a miracle in the making. Stretch yourself and you will find you will be overjoyed with the results. Life will pay you just what you think you are worth. How much do you think you are worth? Think on these things; then go for it.
That is the wonder of this wonderful world.
Chaplain Bud
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. You will never be as young as you are today. Now what are you going to do about the rest of your life?
We live in a very fast world in America. Everything is rush, rush, and done fast; from internet, fast food restaurants, cell phones, etc. However, is all of this making life better or just more hectic?
God created men and women to have good relationships and to be fulfilled, not to be in a rat race that tears down our health and destroys life. We have become abused people driven by success and greed, as we socially and materialistically try to keep up with everyone else.
Some days do you feel like you would like to stop the fast world and get off; to have some peace and quiet with nothing pressing? I believe this is the feeling of many people and they don’t know what to do about it.
I heard a man say one time, “People are creatures who create monsters that eat them up.” He may be right on.
The question then becomes, what can we do about this problem? Here are a few suggestions.
Take time to look at your daily activities. How much of what you are doing is absolutely necessary. Could you make one trip a day instead of two or three? Do you plan your day or just react to what is happening? There are only 24 hour in a day, so maybe you need to learn to budget your time like you do your money. It’s called margin.
“Margin is how much time you have between what you are doing and what you must do next.”
Take time to look at your relationships. How much time do you have for your family and friends? Is your busy life giving you no time for others? Our relationships in life are what give us purpose and joy. And, when there is no margin, time becomes a joy robber, not an asset.
Take time to look at your hobbies or what you like to do in your free time. “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. Not only are work and careers important but they too can be joy robbers. Quality time away from our jobs doing what we enjoy makes us better employees, better husbands and wives, better parents, and better all around people. Hobbies can be fulfilling because you are doing what you enjoy.
All of us have only one life to live. Make it count for something worthwhile. There is a great verse in Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm”.
Who are you walking with today? Who are your companions? Who or what has the greatest influence in your life? These are personal questions that only you can answer truthfully. Your answer will say a lot about your life and your future. It’s the wise choices that are the hard choices. Remember, today is the first day of the rest of your life. Use it wisely.
Chaplain Bud
As I had my prayer time one Tuesday morning the Williamsport Police continues to come to mind. Its one thing to pray for our officers, for their safety, and their families but the question is how can we all make our Police Department better?
What is it we all can do to make our department a better place in which to work and serve? Every organization can always improve. What will it take to improve moral and enthusiasm about the great job of being a law officer?
As Chaplain, these are questions I ask myself. We are all human with human needs. We not only have a career but a life outside of the department. So how can we all help each other?
First, I believe we must respect each other. Respect each other’s experience and rank. Respect that each officer is a human being with feelings, desires, and dreams. Respect the fact that our families are affected by our careers. Respect for the uniform and what it stands for. Yes, a little respect could go a long way toward good morale.
Second, good communication makes a good, well-oiled machine. Communication is more than just talking but being clear on what we expect of each other. Communicate to each other their value in the department. Communicate your appreciation of a job well done, or going the extra mile or when someone does you a favor. Communication goes a long way to help morale.
Third, we need to appreciate the great career as a law enforcement office. You and I are in a great position to help other people. The job is a good paying job. Only 50 plus people in this town have the opportunity you have to be a part of the Williamsport Police Department.
Fourth, your families are so important to your morale and happiness. Take good care of them. Your career is only part of your life. Don’t take your job home with you. Don’t be a policeman at home, be a father, husband, and good community person. If you are a female office be a good wife, mother, and, yes, a home maker. The law enforcement career in the United States has the highest rate of divorce of all careers. Put your families first and career second.
I truly love to be around people who make a difference. We can make a difference. Life was meant by God to be fulfilling and happy. Every day you may have to deal with the worst element of our society, but you are making a difference! Our police department needs good, efficient, effective officers. We have them.
My advice is to rise above gossip and cheap talk. Strive to be a change maker. Keep a good attitude and work record. Go beyond what is expected and you will be blessed. Then, at the end of your career, you can say, “I gave it my best and they were good years.”
Chaplain Bud