My name is Andy; I carry a badge.No, really, I carry a badge! And it is pretty sweet. I just got it today, and I feel like a kid playing dress up. I have been the chaplain for the North Kansas City Police Department for a year and a half, but I hadn’t gotten my official badge and I.D. card until just today.
I don’t really understand this feeling I’m experiencing. It is kind of like pride, maybe a bit of self-satisfaction, and a dash of confidence, perhaps. Nothing has changed about me except for now I have a little wallet with a fancy piece of metal and a plastic card in it. But there’s this feeling that goes along with this badge. I think … I don’t know for sure … but I think I may be feeling … *gulp* … cool!
Let me make it clear right up front that I have never been and likely will never actually be “cool.” I was a music guy all through high school and college; I did drama and debate; I was really skinny and got really good grades. None of these characteristics would have made me at all cool. And now, at age 35, all hope of my ever being cool seems to have disappeared. Once you get to be a certain age, your chances of being considered cool are lower than grass.
But now I have a badge, an actual police badge! How many people can say that? That’s what makes me think this must be coolness that I’m feeling. Of course, in all seriousness, there is a lot of responsibility that goes along with begin the chaplain of a police force. I am not trying to make light of my role. But since I got my badge this afternoon, I have taken it out of my pocket about every fifteen minutes or so, just to look at it and smile. I couldn’t wait to get home and show my kids, you know? It just feels so cool!
Okay, I’m done. Sorry for that silliness. But hey, you wanna see my badge? I’m pretty sure it’s cool!
14 comments:
"Just the facts ma'am."
Funny, you strike me more as Sheriff Andy Taylor rather than Sergeant Joe Friday. :)
Nevertheless, how about a cyber-coffee at the end of the shift?
Regards,
Dark Gable
can i run around with you andy? i have one of those fbi t-shirts...
Your worthiness factor just went up--I wouldn't have believed it possible. Now a badge-carrying stud pastor!
I can totally understand. It would be really cool to have a real badge, and I wouldn't be able to hold back either.
But I'm sorry, Andy, you are one of the coolest people I know. And, no, there is no truth to the rumor that I don't know a lot of people. I know a lot. And you are in the upper echelons of Tres Cool.
By the way, when do you get the gun?
Dear Sheriff Andy Taylor,
We Maybury folk are feeling just a bit safer these days since you got your badge. Please let me know if you ever need to borrow my bullet.
Sincerely,
Deputy Barney Fife
PS: Congratulations Andy ... great to know that a quality minister like you is helping our police force.
I didn't know you were a police chaplain - congratulations on your new hardware! As someone who previously worked for a police dept. and saw a lot of stuff, I appreciate the importance of your position - for the officers and the people they work with. They're lucky to have someone as cool - YES, I said it - as you. :)
Hi Andy
Welcome to the world of police chaplancy. I've been with the MSHP now for 5.5 yrs. At first the equitment i.e. badge, shirt, flash light, vest etc. made me feel cool. That's ok, but remember two things. You were already cool in God's eyes. and the real coolness of being a pc is the + response you get from pastoring a group of people who normally tend to stay away from our types.
Grace and Peace
mtds
Somebody's poisoned the water hole!
-Woody, from Toy Story, a fellow badge wearing man.
Andy, what sort of training is required to serve as police chaplain?
I would just like to point out the lack of negative comments in this post. thank you!
John, I have no experience other than here in North Kansas City, but I understand that the training varies widely from place to place. In my case, my training was conducted one-on-one with a few personal conversations with the police chief here. It was not overly structured, since it was just me, and consisted of his outlining his expectations and filling me in on the kinds of things I would be doing and seeing.
Thanks for flashing the badge upon request last Sunday night as you walked "home" from the ordination service; sorry I was otherwise engaged at the time or I would have asked to hold it so I could test and assess the ways the parking lot iluminations made it shine and sparkle!
Peace!
sce
Mummm...doughnuts.
-Mitch
Adam Caldwell wrote:
I would just like to point out the lack of negative comments in this post. thank you!
Well, that is just unacceptable. Allow me to return us to the norm with a stinging personal insult.
Andy, you're a Calvinist!
Ouch! Pass the Bactine.
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