Some of you may see me walking around town wearing my blue weighted vest. Every time I wear it, I get a lot of stares, and even some comments. It is a 50lb weighted vest and I wear it on 2-3 mile walks, and on hikes up North Mountain. I can only imagine what people think…Who is this crazy guy walking in 100 degree weather with that vest?

To me….this is much more than a vest…it is what is represents. It motivates me, and it gets me thinking. I wear this vest to work out, and every time I put it on, it reminds me of many things…

Every time I put on this vest, I think of our troops in Iraq, and Afghanistan who wear a flack vest 24 hours a day in extreme heat…protecting us from terrorism. Every time I put on this vest, I am reminded of the police officers who upon entering the station, put on their bulletproof vests to protect themselves from the deadly force that may be used upon them. Every time I put on this vest I am reminded of the firefighters who don over 60 lbs of protective gear in order to perform their jobs and protect us from a horrible death…..and more importantly, every time I put on this vest, it reminds me to put on the armor of God each and every day as I go out into the world. By wearing the armor of God, I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This 4th of July, as we celebrate with family and friends, around the pool, or the barbeque, let us remember those who fight for freedom abroad, and also, let us remember our Hometown Heroes, our police, fire, and ems workers. They work long hours away from their families, on weekends, and holidays. They don’t do it for the pay, the fame, or the fortune. They do it because it is their job. They do not want to be called heroes just because they are doing what they were trained to do.

Police, firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics, can not be made, they are called to their chosen professions. They know that each day they report to work, may be their last. What is it that makes them do what they do? What is it that allows them to put themselves in harms way to protect a wife from an abusive husband, to thwart a robbery in progress, or to run into a burning building to rescue a child, when everyone else is running out. What could possibly bring a person to do this? No matter what people say, whether or not it is courage, a desire to live life on the edge, or utter craziness, the thing that makes a person do this is compassion. Compassion for others, and a passion for life. Some people say police officers and firefighters are little boys and girls that have never grown up. They say this in a negative way. I say hooray for the child in all of us. The love of a child, and the innocence in their thinking. The tradition of Public safety service lives on because young people come along who catch its fever and add new life to it.

Over 100 years ago, Edward Crocker, chief of the FDNY said it the best…..

"I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to help protect my fellow man. The position of a firefighter or police officer may in the eyes of some appear to be a lowly one, but we who know the work which we do, know it to be a noble calling. Our proudest moment is to help save lives. The nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring, and even supreme sacrifice."

In John 15:13, Jesus tells us there is no greater love than to lay down ones life for a friend, and Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. In the NY city police Dept, Signal 1013 is a cry for help from a fallen officer. This same verse in Romans translates to "all who call on the name of the lord shall be saved. (Another cry for help)

Today, let us not only remember, but pray for our public safety employees and their families. They are Americas’ Hometown Heroes who keep us safe…the firefighters and police officers prayer both end in the same way, and I quote….

"….and if according to your will, I must give my life, please bless with your protecting hand, my children, and my wife….

Dear Jesus…..Thank you for loving us…..and Thank you for the sacrifice you made on Calvary. Thank you for the men and women who put themselves in harms way each day.