Tonight, candlelight vigils will be held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. I have a deep respect for cops. It’s hard not to when you understand what makes a hero. These men and women enter the profession believing they can overcome injustice. Today, we remember those who have fallen, whose families have learned that the idea of invincibility is just that – an idea. Their bodies, though strong, were ultimately vulnerable to bullets, weapons, collisions, and disease. They were, indeed, mortal.
Over the past decade, we’ve averaged 154 line of duty deaths (LODD) per year, including 136 in 2014. The author references the events surrounding Officer Darren Wilson, who acted in self-defense to avoid becoming the 137th victim that year. It’s a somber reflection that many who criticize law enforcement may not remember the names listed on the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).
The song Hallelujah was sung at a previous vigil. It’s a secular song with a spiritual title and thought-provoking lyrics. The word “hallelujah” comes from two Hebrew words: “Hallel,” meaning to praise, and “Jah,” short for “Jehovah,” referring to the self-existent and eternal one. It’s a name of the Lord that emphasizes God’s timeless nature. Hallelujah expresses praise, joy, and thanks, especially to God.
The author reflects on the lyrics of the song, noting their open interpretation. King David, often described as baffled in some interpretations, was, in reality, a man of firm conviction when obedient to God, and deeply sorrowful when facing the consequences of his destructive decisions. The author then quotes a line from the song: “Maybe there’s a God above / But all I’ve ever learned from love / Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya.”
With respect to the songwriter, the author argues that cops express far more love than simply being tactically superior. The mortality we witness is evidence of love. As the apostle John wrote, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” The officers we remember today did even more; they laid down their lives for complete strangers!
If King David was a real figure in history, and a man after God’s own heart, what can we learn as we seek eternal answers? We believe there’s more to life than death, but what is it? If God exists, and is a good God, why do bad things happen to good people? This is a complex question, but let’s consider one aspect: free will. Regardless of spiritual background, most agree that people have free will – the ability to make their own decisions. God gave us the ability to choose. We make good and bad choices. Some make evil choices, leading to severe consequences. Without free will, we’d be puppets. Because God offers us the choice to accept or reject Him, He allows us to live with the consequences, both honorable and dishonorable.
“Whoa, slow down preacher boy,” some might say. The author clarifies that he is not a pastor, but a career cop who has witnessed lives destroyed by inhumanity. This is why he takes spiritual issues seriously, believing there is more to life than this present existence. Otherwise, he would be the ultimate cynic!
King David’s son, Solomon, wrote, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Because God has placed eternity in everyone’s heart, people are drawn to Him during crises, especially funerals and graveside services. The question is, what will we do when we feel Him tugging at our heart? We all have free will to seek Him as He is engaged in the Eternal Pursuit of each of us.
— Jim McNeff