One year later

August 30, 2016

Good evening, it is truly an honor to stand before you this evening to speak on behalf of the Moats family. A family that I have learned over the last few days is stronger than I, or even they, could have imagined they would be. I have had the privilege to hear stories galore. Some funny, some inspirational, and some that I have been sworn to keep to myself. From his mom Lisa and stepdad Donald, I heard about his love of people and his professed faith in Jesus Christ. From his stepmom Kathleen, compassion. From Big Kenny, he said that "hammerhead" was stubborn but had incredible work ethic. From his wife Britteni, his love and devotion to his family. All these things you have heard and read also from friends and strangers over the last several days.

But tonight I want to also talk about why we’re here, and that is his death. Kenny Moats died exactly the way he lived. All out! Stubborn. Determined. For others. The bible says that, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”. Kenny lived out the greatest love according to scripture. So my question tonight is this, what are we going to do with it? To be clear, what are you going to do with Kenny’s death? I know what today is like. We feel it! We feel the hurt, regret, devastation, anger, loss, confusion. We’ve all played the game of what if, what should have happened, what could I have done. But what about later? What do we do when the feelings are gone? Because they will go!

After 9-11 there was such an incredible sense of patriotism and pride that my generation had never seen or felt. Pride in our flag, pride in our military, pride in our law enforcement and fire-fighters. But the “feeling” is, for many, gone. The pageantry that we have seen today and will continue to see this evening and tomorrow will cause a sense of intense pride to rise up within our families and community! You can’t help but feel it and be proud to member of this small town! But that feeling is temporary. But the effect can carry on.

Merriam-Webster defines the word “vain”, as this, “producing no result, useless”. I have heard many of our brothers and sisters in law enforcement and community members say that they don’t want Kenny’s death to be in vain (to be useless, to produce no results). I have good and bad news tonight depending on how you’re wired. If you see yourself as a victim and you’re just going to lay back and let what happens happen then what I am about to say will be bad news. If you see yourself as man, as a woman, that will not allow his death to be useless then this can be good news.

I have a vision of a legacy! I have a vision of a community changed by tragedy. Legacies aren’t born in ceremonies or pageantry. I have heard of movements of naming parks after Kenny, a memorial fund has been set up for Britteni and the kids, and we are all here to celebrate and remember his life; but legacies aren’t born through material things. Legacies are born in people. Revivals aren’t birthed in churches, revivals are birthed through people. You don’t fulfill your calling to law enforcement because of the badge, the gun, the cool cars and toys. You fulfill your calling because of people that have needed you! Still need you!

I have a vision of one or two or ten or a hundred of you in attendance tonight in 5 years or 8 years or 10 years from now, shaking Kameron, Tyson, or Mackenzie’s hand and saying, because of your dad’s life and sacrifice I am a better man. Because of your father’s life and legacy that he left I became a better mother, father, husband wife. Because of Kenny Moats I went home to my spouse, my children and made peace! That is a legacy!

I have a vision of a new recruit hearing the story of Officer Kenny Moats and being inspired to be great instead of just average. Of someone that has no direct connection to law enforcement but because of Kenny and the stories and the pride of his community being inspired to be like Kenny and want to spend more time with his family. Can you see the pride in Kenny, Kathleen, Donald, Lisa and the amazing Briteni as these kids graduate and become contributors to society because the bar was set high and held high? Because the support was immense and help was near! Can you see it?

But none of this can happen if you don’t find peace. Chaplain Craft’s message was, you can’t make peace if you don’t have peace! And that peace only comes through Christ. I know there are over 2,000 opinions in this place and you all think you’re right. I believe the first step to this peace is peace with God. Jesus was asked by an attorney, what is most the important commandment. Jesus answered this way, Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Then he said this, the 2^nd is like the first. Just as important. Love your neighbor as yourself! Jesus said the most important thing in your life was that you make peace with God. Then, he said to make peace with yourself and others. Jesus is the key to this kind of peace.

I know some of you, one year later, are still struggling to make peace with all of it. Peace with yourself. Peace with life. Jesus is the source of that peace. Stay safe. Stay sharp. And never forget!

Brad Bryant