Chaplain Bill Wolfe
Assistant Chaplain Claudia Wolfe
Llano County Sheriff’s Department
Welcome to the June 2005 Edition of the Chaplain’s Corner. As you can tell by this month’s title, there is heaviness of heart as we write. Last month I told you about my weekend adventure at Enchanted Rock. As some of you may know, my monthly articles are also published monthly in The Blues, Texas’ largest police newspaper. (www.thebluesnews.com) If you’ve looked at that edition, either hardcopy or online, you’ve seen that I expanded the article which was posted here as compared with what was printed in The Blues last month. As I expanded it, I felt a strong urge to include a prayer for those who’d lost a loved one. Little could I have imagined that that prayer was for us here at the LCSO. A short two weeks later, we were reeling from the first line-of-duty death here since the 1880’s.
As I write, it is now two weeks after Andy was shot. Ours is a small department, having grown over the past 5 years to 28 sworn officers. We all feel the loss deeply, and while the public grieving may have ceased, we all still hurt – deputies, dispatchers, jailers, and not least the Sheriff. I’m sure those of you in other departments that have had line-of-duty deaths can relate.
In trying to decide what to share in this column, my thoughts went back to the column I wrote after 9-11 based on the 23rd Psalm, a Scripture many people’s thoughts turn to at a time like this. In years gone by, I’d memorized the Psalm, as I’m sure many of you have done.
1The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou are with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
I guess I’d always looked at the verse about the “valley of the shadow of death” as referring to the Psalmist going through an experience where he could be killed. I’ve realized in just the last couple of days that it has a second meaning. The “valley of the shadow of death” can also apply equally to the grief and depression that comes upon us at such a time as this. Truly there is a shadow of sadness that has come upon our hearts.
The Shepherd’s rod and staff does speak of “offensive weapons” that He uses in protecting the flock against enemies that come against the flock to do it damage. But as I reflected upon the staff, or shepherd’s crook, I thought about it being a tool that the shepherd sometimes uses to pick up the injured lambs and bring them into his arms. Perhaps you’ve seen the picture of the shepherd using the crook to rescue a lamb that has fallen over a precipice. The staff and the crook speak to me of God’s love and compassion. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah bears this out in 40:11:
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart – NIV
Verse 3 of the Psalm says, “He restores my soul.” I don’t have the understanding or the ability to explain how or when it happens. I only know that if we will open our hearts towards Him in the time of grieving, He will come and wrap us in His love and compassion. The hurt and the sorrow of the separation from our loved one is still there, but He helps ease the feeling that we can’t go on. The healing time is different for each of us, but He is not in a hurry. His compassion is there to help us, however long it takes.
I’m going to pause here and let Claudia lift us in prayer:
“Father, I pray that you will tend to all of Your law-enforcement community like a shepherd. Those who are hurting and grieving, Lord, please gather into Your loving arms and carry us close to Your heart. Hold us close, to hear Your voice of comfort and to feel Your heartbeat, to feel Your breath as You hold us safe and secure in Your loving arms.
“I do pray that You will continue to lead sheriffs, chiefs, and captains who have young officers in their charge: help them to guide and instruct their rookies, even as You guide the leaders. Bless all those who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Guard them as they go out and as they come back in, and return them safely to their families at the end of each shift. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.”
(Is. 40:11; Ps. 106:3; 121:8)
Deputy Sheriff Andy Taylor was laid to rest May 12, 2005. As we closed the service at the cemetery, Sheriff Garrett made perhaps his hardest radio broadcast ever:
“740 to all officers, all stations…752 is 10-42, 10-7, out of service. We love you, Andy.”
Andy will be missed greatly, but never forgotten.
Chaplains Bill & Claudia
llanochaps@moment.net
