Taking a Warning Into Council

November 06, 2026•1 min read

“A warning becomes preparation when it is shared with those who must respond.”

Scrolls of Reflection 3:19 (Courage)

Yasunari understands the storm in his vision as a warning of trials ahead. When he considers preparation, he recognizes that he will need the support of his advisers, generals, and people. The responsibility cannot remain inside his own reflection.

A warning is useful when it reaches the people who can help respond. Leaders can become isolated by the assumption that they must first have every answer. Sharing a concern responsibly allows different forms of knowledge to enter the preparation. It also gives others time to understand what may be asked of them, instead of meeting the challenge unprepared.

If a foreseeable difficulty involves other people, tell the appropriate people early. Separate what you know from what you suspect, and invite help with the unanswered questions.

Reflection question: Who needs to be included while preparation is still possible?

Discover The Trials of Courage, Book Three of The Chronicles of the Sacred Kingdom by D. Scott Lofthouse.

D.Scott Lofthouse

D. Scott Lofthouse has lived a life defined by service — as a law enforcement officer, military veteran, educator, and author. His journey from the streets of Anchorage to the quiet mountains of Utah reflects both discipline and faith, courage and reflection. He began his career in 1986 with the U.S. Air Force, serving in Belgium, Guam, and Alaska as a Law Enforcement Specialist and Investigator before joining the Anchorage Police Department in 1993. Over the next two decades, he became Alaska’s foremost authority on gang intelligence, serving as the primary Gang Intelligence Officer for the state and working closely with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. His professionalism and leadership earned numerous commendations, including multiple Chief’s Letters of Recognition and a Mayor’s Certificate of Appreciation. A natural teacher, D. Scott also served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Charter College and lectured on gang investigations, leadership, and internet safety across the country. His years of service instilled in him a deep understanding of humanity’s dual nature — the constant tension between darkness and light — a theme that lies at the heart of his writing. Now retired from law enforcement, D. Scott lives in Utah, where he continues to write and teach. His fantasy series, The Chronicles of the Sacred Kingdom, beginning with The Trials of Unity, explores the moral and spiritual dimensions of courage, leadership, and redemption. A devoted father and grandfather, he draws daily inspiration from family, faith, and the quiet majesty of the mountains that surround him.

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