Page 36 - December 2021

Your mere presence
Father Dan encourages members to bear in mind that their presence alone is making the City safer and to surround them- selves with people who acknowledge and appreciate that fact.
Because the Department has a no-chase policy — unless somebody is firing a weapon and running away — you ba- sically can’t chase a criminal that you just witnessed com- mitting a crime.
So you feel like your hands are tied. Well, handcuffed.
That’s a frustrating feeling. You got on this job to make a difference in this world, and now you feel like you’re not.
You are doing God’s work, even if you don’t know it sometimes. Even on a day where you don’t feel like you made a difference, your mere presence is perhaps keeping crime at bay without you even realizing it.
For instance, let’s say you’re just sitting in a parking lot doing paperwork. Guess what gas station is not going to get robbed while you happen to be in a parking lot across
Father Dan Brandt
the street?
You don’t recognize the difference you make
sometimes, because it’s proactive. You’re the face of
God in some communities that sorely need it. And why re- act when you can keep crime at bay in the first place?
Despite what you so often see and hear, whether from the media or the loudmouths who get all the attention as far as coverage, they are the loud minority.
The vast majority of taxpaying, working, educated, law-abiding, God-fearing and respectful people love the police. They appreciate the police and realize they need the police. But that doesn’t sell papers. It’s the other view that gets the attention of the media.
Sadly, as we’ve learned, if you say something enough that’s not true, it becomes fact. But, no. Sure, there are some very loud people out there who don’t like you. That’s fine. Sadly, they get a lot of the attention.
But pay attention to the ones who count. The ones who like, respect and appreciate you.
Where we fifind our hope
Chaplain Kimberly Lewis-Davis
Officer Kimberly Lewis-Davis believes members can feel invigorated from enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
Recently, there was an announcement from the Depart- ment about an 11-year-old being connected with a carjack- ings. In those situations, while there’s a relief or victory in having some offenders arrested, it puts things in a different perspective when the offender is 11 years old.
How do we stay anchored and uplifted after that?
We look at finding ways of staying connected to love, joy, peace and hope. This is the season of Advent, and those are the focuses for each week.
We find activities and people who spark joy. For exam- ple, there’s an anticipation and excitement around expect- ing the birth of a new baby.
And sometimes, in the hecticness of the day, we find those grounding moments in the simple things. During this
time, it could be as simple as that favorite cup of coffee or latte, or even that first inhale of cof- fee. Mmm. It becomes a multisensory experience.
Right now, some of the light poles are decorated with greenery and red ribbons and reminders of the holiday sea- son. I can just envision the evergreens and their smell. It brings us back to wonderful childhood memories of Christ- mas.
When things get a little crazy, how can we find peace? Sometimes it’s mindfulness, just deep breathing. Some- times it’s a scripture, or praying that God blesses us with the peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Then there’s the anticipation of the “not yet.” It may not be now that things go in a certain direction, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen. That’s where we find our hope.
My recommendation is to stay connected to those prin- ciples: love, hope, peace and joy.
36 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2021