I’m an Ordained Minister, how about them apples! There is really not much to it. You go online, type in some personal information, pay a small fee and presto! You can marry and bury people in about forty-five states. You don’t even need to know the Ten Commandments; you just need a valid credit card.

I took this plunge several years ago so I could officiate the wedding of my niece when she was unable to secure a “real preacher.” Since then, I have officiated the weddings of most of my nieces and nephews and even my youngest son! Without question a highlight of my life. I am honored they ask, and I invest time into doing a good job for them.

My go to scripture is 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, as it is in most weddings. But verse seven to me in the most powerful and possibly most underrated words written in the bible; ‘Love protects.’

I read a story where the soldiers during the Civil War were given Valentine’s Day cards to send home to their sweethearts, they simply read; Love protects.’

Protect is defined as; “keep safe from harm or injury.” Simple definition but protecting others goes much deeper than that. I am sure any of us would get up in the middle of the night to protect our loved ones from an intruder. But for me, the protection written about in Corinthians reaches beyond physical protection, and into emotional and spiritual protection as well.

This may sound silly, but protecting the ones I love is like being a sailor, or a pirate if you’d rather, who is perched up high in the crow’s nest high above the ship. Searching the horizon ahead for obstacles using a long telescope. They are guiding the ship from a better viewpoint, shouting out instructions on how to maneuver the ship to avoid destruction. Everyone else on the deck of the ship are blind to the dangers ahead and are completely dependent on the person’s eyes from the crow’s nest.

Protecting those we love carries the same responsibility. It is my responsibility to remain on a constant lookout and help guide my family and friends around and through obstacles that could cause them harm. I try to guide not because I am smarter, but because I have ended up smashed on the rocks before and I have learned from it. At my age, I know what to look out for, I know better now, and I have a better view.

When I look out for others, others look out for me. That has to be biblical!

It appears to me that providing physical protection is the easiest of them all. I mean how often do you get into a physical altercation? Emotional and spiritual harm is not as obvious and can be sneaky and more damaging. Simply put, I know there are things I cannot allow into my life, and I must remain on a diligent lookout to avoid them.

The older I get, the clearer my view from the crow’s nest becomes, and hopefully fewer shipwrecks I encounter. Without question, there are dangers ahead, so I will keep my head on a swivel and do the best I can in protecting myself, my family, and my friends.

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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to thowey63@gmail.com.