When I was a law enforcement officer, I served mostly on midnight shift. The shift was staffed by a tight knit group of people who always watched over for one another. It was enjoyable not having to get involved with some of the city politics or neighbor disputes known to occupy the other shifts. Although it could be exceedingly quite at times, the type of calls could prove diverse and challenging. Yet when all was said and done, most officers on mids were like me. No matter how much the work energized them, they couldn’t wait for the dawn – a chance to survive the night and get home safely.
It has probably always been that way. Look at Psalm 130. It captures our universal hunger for God’s help by comparing it to a watchman waiting for the dawn:
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
As a former law enforcement officer, particularly a midnight officer, that passage has always resonated with me. As we face hardships, suffering and death, we wait for the hope that comes with dawn. Ultimately, it isn’t just about our getting home safely. We hunger for a better world.
In that spirit, I am offering a new blog primarily for law enforcement and first responders. It will remain public, but it likely will resonate more with those who have shared this experience. Find these special subject posts at midnightsleo.com.
2pennyblog 