Badges

As one walks the sidewalks and parks in Washington, DC on any given day you will encounter numerous people wearing badges.  Actually I think it's safe to say there are more badges on the streets of DC than perhaps any other city in the country and perhaps the world.  And, I'm not talking about badges of law enforcement.

The badges to which I refer hang at the end of lanyards (some disappearing into shirt pockets), and are clipped to belts, purses, and backpacks.  These badges identify people who work for our government, are contracted by our government, or are businesses and non-profits who work closely with our government - all providing vital services, many of which go unnoticed and unappreciated in our daily lives.

Many of these people are my friends and neighbors.  Some of you are reading these words right now.  I was once myself a civilian employee of the Army for nearly 12 years before going to seminary and becoming a minister.  In a sense as a pastor in DC my work is still closely associated with government because as most of our parishioners and participants are active or retired "badge wearers" during working hours.

"Of course this is true of Washington, DC," you might say.  Because it's a company town and the company is government.  But the same is true no matter where we live or whatever size the city, town, or community.  Our friends, neighbors, family, and perhaps even we are the clerks, commissioners, council members, maintenance people, planners, educators and citizen committee members of government in our communities.  I have intentionally but not disrespectfully omitted firefighters, law enforcement, and military from this list because in many ways we already notice and appreciate them.

All of this has really come home to me in the past week as our neighborhood of Capitol Hill was traumatized by the tragic shooting deaths at the DC Navy Yard.  And now a little over a week later after the media frenzy, obligatory outrage, moments of silence at ball games, and solemn memorial services, we are left to ponder - who were the people who died and are the wounded both physically, emotionally, and psychologically?

They were people who went to work on a Monday morning to jobs that perhaps they had done for years and were looking forward to retirement, or jobs to which they were new and thankful to have.  They were and are mothers, fathers, grandparents, wives, husbands, partners, friends, neighbors all with hopes, fears, dreams, and imagination.  They were the government of Abraham Lincoln "...of...for...and by the people."  They were and are you and me.  They are us.

If you are a "badge wearer"  I say to you right now,  "Take it out of your shirt pocket and wear it proudly.  Do your best to make it a badge of honor."   But most importantly, I simply want to say, "Thank you!"

Wherever you may live I suggest that today you begin noticing who in your community are wearing these badges of honor.  And even if you disagree with their ideology or politics or governing style, say, "Thank you."   They, you, we deserve it!