Feb 2001 Volume 82 Number 2
"serving the protectors"
| Feb 2001 Volume 82 Number 2 "serving the protectors" |
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Caring for the Gift |
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| By David Marr |
I recently attended a church service that the minister closed with the typical blessing: “The peace of God, which passes human understanding, keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.”
As I travelled home I wondered about that. Do we really think that will happen? Do we think that God will act like some kind of lion, parading back and forth outside the portals of our life’s activities to keep at bay anything that threatens our personal peace and wellbeing? That doesn’t happen for me, and it didn’t happen for Joseph either.
The first Christmas story tells how the young father Joseph took his wife Mary and their young child down into Egypt. He did this, of course, to escape the searchings of the ruthless Herod, one of history’s most notorious tyrants. Herod perceived the child as threatening to his rule and sent his troops to Bethlehem in an effort to discover and destroy the new baby reputed to be a prince.
Joseph would never rest easy while such a ruler as Herod existed, and so packed up his young wife and newborn, loaded them onto a donkey and took the dangerous coast road to Egypt. Besides passing through wilderness areas and conditions with excessive heat, flies and dust, the road was also well known as a haunt for thieves. We can imagine Joseph, alert and doing all in his power to ensure the safety of his family. Perhaps he travelled in the company of others where he could, but no doubt he experienced little in the way of peace until he arrived safely in Egypt.
Little is known of Joseph. There are precious few references to him. But there is little doubt he was a good husband and father. You could tell that if you saw him on that road, doing all he could to take care of his family and bring them to safety. The arid region during dangerous times was enough on its own. A recovering young wife and a newly born child on the back of a donkey was a real worry. But we understand Joseph did it. He took care of that tiny gift. He looked after it. He fostered and protected the young child until he was no longer dependent and was capable of dealing with life’s issues.
There is within us all a gift. It is that part which is intrinsically us. There are times, too, when it needs to be looked after. As individuals, we travel personal roads where we become vulnerable to pressures that would have us capitulate and become content with less than our true self. We are tested to concede our true self. We acquiesce, of course, at a cost. It is a dangerous road and the vulnerable child within needs our protection if esteem, happiness, integrity and meaningful relationships are to be maintained.
Christmas and its gifts are by now often forgotten and life again dominated by our work place and daily routines. Take time to consider your family, your life and the ideals creating happiness and meaning within. Perhaps then you will understand something of St Paul’s “Peace of God.”
“The Eternal Spirit” is no protective lion standing committed to our personal shelter. We may choose to make of life what we will. This involves not only events befalling us, but also our attitude to them.
Let us maximize our opportunities to appreciate life and all who bring us joy, and enrich our relationships.
Welfare Section 58 David Marr
Senior Police Chaplain.8364 3567 Academy 8 Brenton Daulby Adelaide: Angas Street 158 Bruce Grindlay 8295 2220 Adelaide: Hindley Street 62 Bruce Grindlay 8295 2220 Adelaide Hills Division 54 Adrian Stephens 8398 2510
Office: 8398 2517Ceduna 214 Sybil Peacock 8625 3505 Christies Beach 20 Peter Coote 8381 3039
0412 818 995Clare 202 Michael Dutschke 8842 3681 Communications 172 David Hand 8376 5612 Elizabeth 52 Vacant Far North 210 John Folkman 8672 5011 Firearms/Records Dianna Bartlett 8337 8552 Focus 21 Richard Lawton 8362 4936 Gawler 52 Brian Tscharke 8522 2288 Glenelg 22 Malcolm Thomas 8377 0772 Henley Beach 18 Vacant Holden Hill 44 Rod Dyson 8365 1170 Kadina 71 Vacant Kingston 208 Mount Gambier 208 Brian Ashworth (w) 8723 1353
(h) 8725 2537Murray Bridge 200 Malcolm Bottrill 8532 5536 Naracoorte 208 Bruce Cliff 8737 2457
0417 811 702Norwood 60 Lynton Wade 8362 2227
0418 831 703Nuriootpa 204 Andy Kowald 8562 1011 Port Adelaide 6 Jeff Oake 8341 5930 Port Pirie 206 Steve Ardill 8632 3977 Prosecution Services 176 Vacant Port Augusta PS 210 Mark Thomas 8642 2487
0401 671 850Port Lincoln 214 Vacant Riverland 212 Robin Zadow 8588 1540 Salisbury 53 Vacant South East Terry Natt 8571 1114 Sturt 12 Chris Beal 8278 9578 Tea Tree Gully 48 Bob George 8395 9363 Thebarton Barracks 32 Joe Grealy 8338 3225 Transit Division Wayne Shepherd 8443 4895 Whyalla 218 Tony Redden 8649 3593
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