October 31, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Guard Duty

The world is not a safe place if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's also a place that some people say has become more dangerous because of the easy availability of weapons and the instability of some of those who have access to those weapons. We have more safeguards in place at office buildings, airports, religious facilities; cameras covering virtually every street and highway, and more police, military and private security forces on duty.
But we still have incidents, active shooters, crime and unlawful activity which threatens our safety and security.
In Vietnam, one of my duties was to pull guard duty on the perimeter of our base at Phu Loi. Every third night I sat on the bunker line looking across a wide expanse of heavily fortified ground which separated us from the "friendly village" about 500 yards from us. We were protected by multiple rolls of concertina wire, barbed wire, Claymore mines, Fougasse, sandbags, a 50-caliber machine gun, small arms, grenades, steel helmet and flak jacket, starlight scopes, spotlights, MPATS and radio communication with the OIC. But we were also susceptible to artillery, rocket and mortar attack from any direction and long-range snipers in that village in front of us. It wasn't fun duty, but it was far less intense than what many of our men faced daily in frontline combat, patrols, recon, and encounters with enemy and friendly forces.
At the Passion Play, I have some "security" duties every evening when we close the facility to visitors who are now mainly coming to see the Christ of the Ozarks statue illuminated after dark. At times it feels like guard duty, like being the buffer between those who are here for the right reason and those who may have less honorable motives. There will always be those who wish to steal, damage, graffiti or tag, or harm a person or property.
Yes, it is part of the world we live in. But it is reassuring to know that we have an all-powerful OIC who watches over us as we serve Him and do the work He has called us to. Thank You, Lord for protecting us, watching our comings and goings and assuring us of an even better future when our work here is finished.

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