It was in March of 2005 that 4 RCMP officers were shot and killed in Mayerthorpe Alberta. I was a pastor in a church in Alberta at the time and though the news had national and international attention, Alberta still feels the shock of this tragedy. At the memorial service held for the officers, it was stated of one officer, Constable Brock Myrol (the one on the right), "He wanted the opportunity to work with people and be able to make a difference."
It struck home closely to me and my family because the death of these officers came just after the time that my brother had joined the RCMP. These words, "He wanted the opportunity to work with people and be able to make a difference," could be said of my brother as well, he wanted to join because he wanted to help people and make a difference.
I believe that is true of all the officers who serve in our community –both in the OPP and with Treaty Three. And that is the ideal of any 5 year old boy or girl who wants to be a policeman when they grow up. At least it was for my boys. Both expressed that they wanted to be policeman when they grew up –why? So they could drive a car really fast or shoot a gun? Well, maybe in part, but both said so they could help people in trouble.
Helping others and making a difference. That is the key theme to my address this morning. As a church which holds to the truth and teachings of the Bible, we have at our core this theme as well. In fact, it is one of the core tenants of the law of God. In the Bible we read that a lawyer came to Jesus and asked which law was the greatest. We find the account in Luke 10. Please read this from the NIV. (10:25-36).
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” It seemed the lawyer had no trouble with the idea of loving God, but there was something that he had a concern about in loving others as himself. So he asked, who is my neighbor? And to that, Jesus gives in response a parable about the good Samaritan.
The term “good Samaritan” has become ubiquitous in our culture with someone who does good, they want to help someone and make a difference. There are organizations which bear the name Samaritan, hospitals, charities, foundations all to express their ideal of helping others. Even in our speech today we refer to someone who has done something good for no reason except to help someone else as a good Samaritan.
This morning I would like to draw a few parallels for us between this parable and our police services. Perhaps this can give us a better appreciation for the tough job that these men and women face simply because they want to help others and make a difference.
The first is that the good Samaritan put himself in danger. Although the road going down to Jericho was well travelled, it had a reputation for being dangerous. It was referred to sometimes as “The Way of Blood.” Robbers would often lay in wait for someone who may be passing by who was alone or unsuspecting. That may be one of the reasons why the other two people passed him. It was not uncommon for thieves to rob and beat someone, leave them by the side of the road, and then when someone came to help to rob and beat them as well.
The good Samaritan was putting himself in danger. And this danger can come so quickly. The four Mounties who were killed in Mayerthorpe were ambushed while providing scene security for what initially was for repossession of a truck. After arriving at the scene, officers found stolen vehicle parts and a grow-op on the farm. No one really expected what would happen that day. Whether it is stopping a vehicle for speeding, going to the scene of a domestic argument or even trying to help someone laying on a sidewalk, officers place themselves in danger all the time. But even more, they will purposefully step into the place of danger to help someone else –literally putting themselves on the line of fire. That is what the good Samaritan did –knowing that there was the very real danger of being attacked and robbed himself, he went to help another person. Why? Because of help and wanting to make a difference.
Another thing we see is that there was a cost to what the Good Samaritan did. We read that he not only bandaged the man but poured oil and wine on the wounds. That may not seem like much today, but back then this was significant. This healing/medicinal care that the man gave would have been expensive. And we add to that the good Samaritan also paid for the man’s care and lodging.
In a country that enjoys health care and emergency rooms and social programs we don’t often face the personal expense of helping someone. But there are other costs for those who want to help people and make a difference. There is a great psychological, social, emotional and spiritual cost in seeing things that most of us would have a hard time imagining. I have talked with officers that are a part of our church enough to know the deep impact that policing our community and the communities that surround Kenora can have. The stress and the strain can be costly emotionally, physically and yes, spiritually. It can even affect the very reason that someone became a police officer –to help others and make a difference, the cost of compassion and hope in seeing that what is done does make a difference, does offer help.
It was several years ago when I talked with a city constable in the community we lived in about how he was doing. He expressed a sense of numbness. “It just wears you down after a while and you begin to look at people with pessimism.”
And there is also a cost to families. They see firsthand the stress and strain of the job of helping others and making a difference. It is hard to leave the job out of the home –to not talk shop or about the day. I can catch a glimpse of this as a pastor in trying not to bring the problems of church into the home. But there is also the added costs of transfers to different communities, worry over long shifts, wonder about the dangers that I mentioned earlier.
At LBC we are seeking to provide an environment where the families of our policing community can connect, find support and encouragement. I know that many of the wives of officers are connecting in our small groups and that the youth are connecting through our youth program.
The Good Samaritan knew there was a cost to what he did, and he still did it. How often do we shy away from helping someone because it may cost us time, effort, even money. Why? Because they want to help, to make a difference.
A third thing we see in this account of the good Samaritan was the time he spent in helping this man. We read that he not only went out of his way to help him, but also took the man to an inn and spent the night caring for him. I know that many of our officers in this community and across Canada spend a lot of time in being a part of their community. In this church we have several officers who give a lot of time in various ministries and activities that we have. And though this can be said of all our church members, I just want to say how much I appreciate the time and energy these men and women spend in helping our church and our community.
I know it is easy to step back and not be very involved –you spend a lot of time dealing with people each day and to come and help out in a youth event when you would rather spend time with family, or fishing or just crashing in front of the TV. But even while on duty you often give that extra time in a busy day –to stop and talk at the farmers market, to have a cup of coffee with someone when there is a pile of paperwork to do, even spending that extra time with someone who is stressed because of something that happened.
It was 22 years ago when my wife and I lived in Seattle, WA. My wife had just given birth to our oldest son and was still in the hospital when our house was broken into. I had arrived home about 11 PM to find our front door kicked in and our house a mess. The officer responding to the call spent about two hours with me that night. I just wanted to make the report and get the paperwork done and get the house in order. But the officer spent time with me. He walked with me through the house, sat and explained things, and then just sat on the couch and talked for over an hour. In hindsight I see that is exactly what I needed –someone to be there in this time of trauma. He didn’t have to stay –it was a busy time in Seattle in those days with an arsonist lighting fires all over the city, the Green River killer and the gang problems that were happening. But he did –he stayed and gave his time.
The Good Samaritan did not have to stop, and he certainly didn’t have to stay the night, but he did. And he didn’t have to come back but promised he would. It was 3-4 days later, after my wife and son were home, that the officer who came the night of the break-in stopped by just to check on how we were doing. He didn’t have to, it was not expected –but he did. He showed his care for us as a part of the community and in this small but significant way made a difference, just by spending some time. Te officer who had made the call to our home after the break-in stopped by a few days later, while off duty, just to see how we were doing. Why? Because he cared, he wanted to make a difference.
A fourth and final part of the Good Samaritan account is that this Samaritan was probably not too welcome in helping this man. We are not told this in the account, but some historical background sets this up. Several hundreds of years earlier Israel was divided into two nations –they had two kings and didn’t always get along. Then along came the Assyrians who conquered the northern kingdom and forced them to intermarry with non-jewish people. These people became known as the Samaritans because of the area in which they lived. They were looked down on by the pure Jew. In fact they were despised as a people and most Jews of that day would even avoid walking into Samaria –even if it meant a longer and costlier trip. They would avoid talking with them and most certainly would avoid touching them.
And so here we see a person, this good man –a Samaritan, as an unwelcomed source of help. We don’t know if this man who was beaten, if he were conscious, would probably even have refused help from a Samaritan.
I can imagine that as police officers you are not always welcomed with a red carpet. In fact, I bet that there are times, even when you are simply there to help, you are not too welcome. And yet you still come forward. Like the Samaritan you cross the boundary and step into a situation where you may not be welcome. Why? Duty –perhaps. But dare I say, perhaps more because you want to help and make a difference.
Police officers are a special part of our community, they are a special breed of men and women who step out of the norm and put themselves in places of danger, often at a cost –giving time and crossing boundaries to help people and make a difference. We want to honor that today and to say thank you.
As families of police officers we want to honor you as well, recognizing some of the pressures you face. As a church and as a part of this community we want to say thank you and to let you know we are here to support and encourage you.
May God bless you, sustain you and supply your needs through Jesus Christ our Lord.
