That Thin Blue Line

     I was lacing up my tennis shoes after changing out of my uniform and into my work-out clothes. This very nice older gentleman walks up to me in the locker room and taps me on the shoulder. He points to my shirt draped over the locker door, and says, "I noticed that shiny badge there, sir - and I just want to say thank you for what you do." I was taken aback. I have received a lot more of these random comments of appreciation ever since these awful occurrences in Ferguson and New York have happened, but this hit closer to home because it was outside of my work setting, and said with the sincerest of voices. It made me appreciate the field of work I am in, but more importantly, it made me appreciate all those 'in blue' who have way more risky jobs than mine. I am a training officer, and a good percentage of my work takes me out of 'the line of fire' so to speak. So although I still get to respond to calls every now and then (Maybe even arrest someone once in a blue moon), I am not in the thick of things.

     I am not out there on the road, wondering - what car am I going to have to pull over next? Who is sitting behind the wheel? What is waiting for me when I walk up to the driver's side or passenger side window? What is waiting inside that house that we just got a call about, and all our dispatchers could get out of the caller was that somebody had a gun? What is that psychiatric patient who we know is a combat veteran thinking about doing? How many people in this crowd of rowdy individuals is armed? What if one of them pulls a gun on me? What if I see a guy with a gun, and he holds it out but doesn't point it at anyone? What if I have to fight someone who tries to take my gun? How long can I last? What if that person I just took to jail decides to file a false complaint? How can I prove I did nothing wrong? Were there any cameras involved? Did I need to strike that guy who pulled a knife on me before I ended up arresting him? What do I do if some guy with an open chest knife wound wants to fight me? Do I tase him?
    
     Or how about some of the lesser decisions they have to make? Do I stay up all night, because my shift is about to swing back to night shift, or do I go ahead and sleep, and hope I can stay awake all through the next night after being up most of the day before? Do I try to get in some extra practice at the shooting range this weekend to keep myself sharp...or do I spend the weekend with my kid? Do I call in sick to work because I feel like crap, or do I help my platoon out because we've been stretched a little thin this week with other people having to miss work? Do I accept the half-off, or better yet free price the restaurant owner just offered for lunch on my way out the door, or do I go ahead and pay full price like everyone else? Do I pull that car over because I saw that 'California roll' at the stop sign, or do I let them drive for another day? Do I spend time following up on that case that I know will go nowhere because of lack of evidence, or do I just focus on patrolling my beat today? Do I rest these next couple of days off, or go train at the gym and maybe learn a thing or two about defending myself?

     These are just a small fraction of the things cops wrestle with every single day. These are things that, although I have had experience with, I don't have to do every single day. The police officers I have worked with, and the ones I still do....have to make decisions and answer these questions all the time. But here's the crazy part - they VOLUNTEER to do this - for YOU! If you are not in law enforcement, they do this for YOU. If you are in law enforcement but off duty, they do it for YOU. They live to protect and serve. There is something in their very nature that makes them have an innate urge to protect those around them and make them feel safe. Not only do they protect and serve, but they try to uphold the standard for what is right, and what is wrong. They do this because they want to. They do this because someone HAS TO. They face Monday Morning quarterbacks, cowardice politicians, killers, violent criminals, thieves, druggies, wife beaters, child molesters, drunks, drug dealers, child abusers, animal abusers, speeders, car accidents, fires, rabid dogs, snakes, and even terrorists. And they do it for YOU and ME.

     Matthew 5:9 in the Holy Bible states "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." In all of the things I mentioned above, those men and women of blue try to keep the peace through it all. If the peace is broken, they try to make peace out of the situation. If you have never served in law enforcement, please read these words with understanding. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you do their job? Is there maybe a reason you don't do their job? Again, somebody has to. A lot of times, there is a thin blue line between right and wrong. I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about the people that walk that line. I just wanted to take a moment to thank those people - who protect that thin blue line. Thank you, brothers and sisters in Blue!

Jason E. Fort

What is the Activity?

In my debut novel, Misguided, I introduce readers to a very secretive branch of our government that I simply refer to as the Activity. But what, or better yet - who - are they? In my book, I refer to the Activity as being comprised of the top military leaders, the Director of the CIA, and the sitting President of the United States. I wrote that the Activity was actually started at the same time as the CIA back in 1947. So basically it goes back to the days of Harry Truman, and the changing of the guard from the OSS. Now while this all sounds intriguing, the Activity has had its hands in almost every major political action of the United States since 1947. I even allude to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Granted, every bit of what I write in my novel is fiction...but a lot of that fiction is brought about by fact. What IF...there really were an unseen, unheard group of people who really controlled the puppet strings of our government? I am not saying there is - but if there were, then how would we know? When I started the Knox Mission series, I didn't even mean to delve too deep into this conspiracy. However, I think this could lead to some interesting stories - especially as it relates to the further adventures of John Knox and Malik Sharif. Stay tuned as I write more...the Activity will have bigger and bigger roles in each book in the Knox Mission. And as the series goes on, maybe we will see just how far-reaching the influence of the Activity goes...

The Perfect Story

     I am a writer; a storyteller. In order to become a storyteller, I think you have to be fairly familiar with how other people tell stories. I have always been a big fan of stories told in all sorts of ways...plays, movies, video games, skits, and of course, books. I think every author of a story is trying their best to write that perfect story...it's like the ultimate objective. All the stories that seem to entertain us the most are the ones that do such a good job telling us that story, and answering the biggest questions in the most ways that connect with us. But here's the catch - I don't think any of us are capable of writing the perfect story, because that is a task only achievable by God...and He has already done it. Think about it - if it is the perfect story, it can only be told for the first time once, be totally original, and have all the answers to all the reader's questions.

     However, since I believe the only perfect story ever written is the Bible, plus it's real sequel - HIS story (History), the story is not finished. The good Lord above has begun a work with all of us, and it will not be finished until it ends the way He said it would in Revelation. I honestly think that is why I am such a believer - because I have always been so drawn to stories, and His story answers every major question you should ask (although it might not be the answer we want to hear), and has every aspect that makes up good stories (action, drama, the 'unbelievable' or awe-inspiring, love, violence, reality, and most importantly...TRUTH).

     Who is God? The Bible answers that question. Why are we here? The Bible answers that question. Where did we come from? The Bible actually answers this. What is the meaning of life? See the Bible. Why is pain and suffering in this world? What is love? Why do bad things happen to good people? How do we overcome life's biggest obstacles? Who did it? Who, what, when, where, why, and how? No story in the history of the world has answered all these questions the way the Bible does in a way that doesn't just give humans some self-serving answer. The Bible does this and glorifies God...although eternal life with Him is promised, there is no self serving prize like 72 virgins, or the perfect golden palace, or getting to live as a higher being because you were good while you were here, etc. No, the Bible is ultimately Jesus's story of humility, but then power...the power of God!

     The perfect story, even if we know how it ends...because the best lesson of it all is that the joy in the writing of the story is not even knowing yourself all the things you will experience along the way! The best part is that we are all characters, in a grand story made up of so many plots and subplots, that the human mind cannot begin to comprehend it all. Yet, the author makes this story different from any other story - He gives his characters the ability to choose which ending they want to be a part of. How awesome is that? What is crazy is there are so many people blinded by pride and selfishness, they refuse to be part of the good ending.

     So here's the deal...if you don't believe me, at least start reading the story from the beginning. Then give the story a chance. Apply things you learn in the Bible to your life. Apply it to the pain and suffering in the world, and try to see it from more than just one human's point of view; especially from the point of view that we are not the author. Don't be so skeptical just because the rest of the world tells you to. If you do that, and give the story a chance...just like you may have picked up a book, gotten frustrated with how a book started, then picked it up later only to end up loving it - then maybe you will experience the story the same way I have in my life.

     I will continue to write stories. I will continue to strive to write my perfect stories, just as we Christians strive to live a Christ-like life, despite knowing we will continuously fall short. But I am excited as I write each story, because I don't know what all will happen along the way. I am going to try to get excited about living life day to day, as I attempt to play my part in the perfect story...won't you join me?

What if...

What if this book I have written one day goes viral? What would happen then? What would I do if my debut novel suddenly started spreading, like 'wildfire'? Is that why I wrote the story? In a word - no. But I would gladly take the profits that would eventually come with that.

What if the right movie producer then gets wind of my novel, and wants to make it a movie? What if I strike up the right deal with a screen-writer..or better yet, learn how to screen-write for myself? Is that why I took on this project? Again, I say - no.

What if the book never makes it outside of my circle of friends and family, and a few hundred random people on the internet who downloaded the Kindle version for free? Does that mean I wasted my time? First of all, I am not finished yet. I started this story, and I plan on finishing it. How many books will it take? I don't know...but the more I write, the more I believe I increase my chances for success. Not to mention - I wrote a book! People who knew me when I was little - never would have predicted this guy to be a writer. An artist - maybe...but not an author.

What if my novel just happens to fall into the right person's hands, at the right time...at a time in their life when they are fighting a spiritual battle, and through some miracle they see through the action and craziness in the book and find the underlying meaning to it all? What if they decided to win that spiritual battle that day? Well then, my friends - that is WHY I WROTE the book. That would make it all worth it, right there. Even if I wrote twenty novels...and none of them made it to the big time - if just one person made the decision to turn to Jesus, that would make it all worth it. In the end, if you take out the black mambas, the assassins, the special forces, the CIA, the military, the FBI, Islam - what matters most in the story is the fact that one person makes that decision. So if this story were to have a tiny little impact like that in this great big world, then my very own "Knox Mission" would be complete.

Black Mambas, crossbows, and syringes - oh my!

     Black mambas...crossbows...syringes filled with snake venom - several people have asked me after reading some of my writing, "Where do you come up with this stuff, Jason? You aren't really the violent type." I have had to ask myself that question, especially with my upbringing in the church. I can tell you, I have always had a strange fascination with all the different types of violence in the books I read AND the movies and TV shows I watch.

     I mean let's face it - nobody wants to suffer from a violent attack of any sort. But you can't help but wonder: what could I do to someone if they try to hurt me? If you see enough movies over the years, and read enough books, you can mix tricks used by their creators to come up with totally new ways to inflict harm upon imaginary characters. I know this sounds a bit sadistic, but there is just something challenging about writing a story about some way a villain or hero might try to harm some opposing force, and be unique in doing it.

     So whether it be getting beat by a baseball bat, or killed by some neuro-toxin injected with a hypodermic needle or snake fangs - you can get the same result by all sorts of means. Ironically it is almost the opposite of the definition of insanity. It is a strange twisted thing to even consider writing about for most Christians, but if you think about it, don't we live in just the sort of world where we have to overcome such things...and sometimes the only way to overcome them - why, turn to God, of course! But hey, that's another story.

Which would you rather have?

November 21, 2014

Would you rather have a father to look up to, who hung the moon, who could do anything, who wants to have a relationship with you, who lets you make mistakes and learn from them, who doesn't control every aspect of your life like you're some puppet on a string, who LOVES you....

                                                         or

Would you rather have a father who gives you no choices, who is domineering and inflexible, who cares not about love but about control, who only shows mercy if he feels like it, who stones people when they do wrong, who doesn't want a relationship but your loyalty, who wants not just to surrender, but totally submit to him and his will?

                                                        or

We can flip this around. If you were a parent, would you rather have your child look up to you, think you hung the moon, want to have a relationship with you, who makes mistakes and learns from them, who has some freedom to make choices, who loves you...

                                                        or

Would you rather have your child have no choices, be totally controlled by your will, who has to be controlled, who never receives mercy, who you can stone to death if they make mistakes, who is only loyal to you out of fear and respect, who totally submits to your will?

Maybe I am crazy, but the choice is obvious to me.

What would you do to protect your family?

November 12, 2014

To what lengths are you willing to go to protect those you love? Ask yourself that question, or ask yourself - what is your limit or line in the sand before you resort to drastic or violent means to resolve a situation? The main character in Misguided never got to answer this question because his family was taken from him, and he had no control over the outcome. But what if you knew someone wanted to harm your family? Would you try at all costs to fight for their safety, regardless of your training or lack thereof? Would you try to meet attackers' demands, or would you fight? This is something I think every 'man of the house' at least ponders at some point in their role as father figure or head of the household. I pray to God I never have to take action to answer this question, but trust me, I have thought about it many times. Me personally - I would use all the tricks in the book. I would use my strength, my size, my training, diversions, whatever it takes - to keep my family. So...what would you do to protect yours?