From the Pulpit: "Blue"
Being the pastor at Risen Savior, I am often reminded of the presence of our law enforcement men and women who serve our local community so faithfully, since they love to use our parking lot to catch those pesky speeders along Splitrock Boulevard. I just wish they would give us 50 percent of the fines that they collect! All joking aside, it always is a good reminder when I see our dedicated first responders – police, fire and medical personnel – ensuring the well-being of all of us. The work they do is not easy, but necessary, so thank you!
A few weeks ago, instead of seeing the police officer sitting in the parking lot waiting to catch speeders, an officer’s car rolled up right in front of our main entrance. Immediately I thought, “What happened?” Well honestly, I pondered, “What did I do?” Two officers approached with a gentleman definitely distraught. I met them inside the front doors and the officers said, “This gentleman has had a rough couple of days and was looking for a pastor to talk to. Would you talk with him?” Of course, I would. A lot more in regards to this encounter transpired that day and thankfully, in the end, I believe and hope that this young man is finding the happiness that God desires for him.
I share this story because it reminds me of a passage in the scriptures where some friends bring a man who is paralyzed to encounter our Lord who was providing amazing healings. The paralyzed man couldn’t get himself to encounter Jesus due to his disability, but relied upon his friends to assist him. We are not even told in the passage if the paralyzed man wanted to even be healed. The friends took it upon themselves to assist him and bring him to our Lord. The Brandon police officers encountered a man in need and brought him to a place they thought he could receive help, spiritual assistance – a place where this gentleman could be restored with faith and hope. It would have been very easy to just pass by and allow the man to continue to suffer, but they didn’t. They brought a perfect stranger to a place that could love and care for him. I will say as well, he didn’t seek a Catholic church alone like my parish Risen Savior, he sought a pastor, he sought any church. Throughout the conversation with this man, much was learned but the most heart-wrenching detail shared with me was that if he hadn’t found someone to help him, his next stop was to jump from the bridge overlooking the interstate. Thank God those officers recognized his need, offered to help and brought him to someone, anyone who might be able to care for him.
Each day of our lives we have the opportunity to recognize the needs of others in our local community and either attempt to assist them or just walk by. Those officers acknowledged they didn’t have the specific need the man was looking for, but they knew if they took the time they could find someone who did. And they didn’t rest until they did so. I, too, didn’t have the answers to fully help him either, which is why I too reached out to another organization in Sioux Falls who could complete the work begun by those officers.
Often in our lives we can become so focused on our own struggles, our own needs and are unaware of those suffering around us. Like those friends in scripture or our dedicated men and women in blue, let’s take the time to see those with needs around us. May God reward these unnamed Brandon Police officers for taking the time to see.
