USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Guest Military Chaplain Service and Sunday Liberty ~ November 2 2003

Guest Military Chaplain and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Welcome to
The USO Canteen FReeper Style

Today's Spiritual Journey takes us to the

Navy Chaplain Corps

---

Click on graphic to link to the original sermon.

 

MAKING ASSUMPTIONS

A story making the rounds this past week told of a policeman who was heading home after a long, hard day on patrol. He had dealt with a whole succession of difficult people, and a mountain of frustrating paperwork. All he wanted at this point was to kick back, unwind, enjoy some peace and quiet, and maybe watch a few innings of baseball on TV. But, as he neared home, he was startled by a vehicle that came careening around a sharp curve and narrowly missed his squad car. As the car passed within a few inches of him, the other driver shouted "Pig!" The police officer was suddenly energized. He slammed on brakes, all set to turn his squad car around and head off in hot pursuit. But as he rounded the curve, ... he ran head-on into a large pig that was standing in the middle of the road!

It's a lesson we learn early in life if we're lucky: DON'T ASSUME! No matter how confident we are in our understanding of the issue. No matter how certain of another's reasoning or motives. No matter how obvious the point may be to US. Effective communication is far more complicated and difficult than we think. With barriers like cultural differences, personal "filters," different definitions, etc., its amazing that any of us EVER understand one another. But these aren't the most difficult obstacles. The biggest reason we aren't able to hear what another is saying to us is simply... "fear!"

Oh, we may camouflage it behind anger, self-importance or any number of other false fronts, but at the root is fear. Fear of being "found out," or of being disappointed, or of not getting what we want. It's a powerful if crippling motivator. And most of us can summon up plenty of reasons why we shouldn't take another at face value. Honest communication requires trust, and taking a risk. And we've been burned too many times. So we settle for safety, make the natural assumption, and run head-on into our own version of that pig as we journey down life's highway!

There is a better way. A way that recognizes our similarities. That sees others as a source of community and healing. That looks past our own frustration and previous disappointments to explore the possibility that even a "stranger" may have something positive to say. The Apostle Paul described it inI Corinthians, chapter 13. It's the "higher way" of love. I almost hesitate touse that term these days because of the way our culture misuses it. But when you read Paul's description, try substituting "maturity." It's a perfect fit. The risks are higher for this way of living, but so are the rewards.

Another (anonymous) writer cautions:

"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self. To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live. Chained by their certitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free."

That doesn't mean we should be naive. It does mean we should be careful what we assume. Check it out. Give others the benefit of the doubt. And if someone shouts something unexpected at us, at least entertain the possibility that perhaps it may be more than a personal insult. Who knows, that approach could change our life.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

[Fawnn]

You're welcome. ;)

[minor49er]

I found this and I was touched. The only reason I didn't start crying was that my little brother was in the room playing with the cat who was destroying my room.
http://www.reoutfitters.com/WeSupportU/WeSupportU.htm
I don't know if it's been posted before, but that's ok.

[Radix]

Gee, Minor, you could have warned me.

I had no Kleenex around.

You screwed up my monitor, and I am besides myself looking for a wash cloth for my eyes. Thanks, thanks a lot.

Excellent link. I thank you much for the treasure that you gave and shared with us.

-Radix

[Hondo1952]

A TESTAMENT OF WARRIORS

We are warriors.
We are patriots.
We are brothers in arms.
We are sons and fathers,
Capable of compassion and understanding.
We are of flesh and blood,
Of conscience and humanity.
We are human.

We are the first to feel the pain of battle,
To suffer the anguish of war,
To endure the horror and agony of hell.
Our eyes have wept in witness
To the destruction by our hands;
Our souls have cried to be rescued
From the horrors of man.

Yet doubt not our resolve;
For our loyalty to this country is pure,
As pure as the cause that we champion.
And when the hour comes
That our swords must be unsheathed,
We will strike with a vengeance;
Pure in body and pure in soul.

For we are death's henchmen,
The caretakers of hell.
And it is the nature of this profession
That death stands by our side.
We must harness the power of violence
And exploit the elements of fear.
For we are our country's instruments of destruction.

Yet every soldier must face the paradox
Between the love of life and liberty,
And the risks of defending that love.
It is this pain that a warrior must endure;
It is the irony that only a warrior will understand.

Our cause is born of purity and justice,
And it is as timeless as the cause
Of the brethren gone before us.
So we will bear the wounds for this country;
For we know these principles are worth defending.
These ideas are worth dying for.

And if these ideas seem simple, so be it!
We answer not to you.
For you are not entitled to judge us,
lest you bear the wounds that we bear.
We ask not for your forgiveness,
merely for your understanding.

Yet you must honor the bravery of our fallen brothers.
For like the mournful notes of 'Taps'
That have crossed the hillside
And passed into the night, they are gone.
Their dying was the ultimate sacrifice;
The upholding of a promise,
The commitment to an idea.

And as the souls of countless men
Stand testament to the belief in this idea,
Let not your way of life be taken for granted.
Take hold of it.
Embrace it.
Nurture it.
Hold it in the highest esteem.
For it is not yet paid for!

And in the twilight hours of the morning,
Before the dawn greets the day,
On freedom's horizon you will find us,
The sons of liberty.

GOD,
GRANT PEACE TO THIS WORLD–
FOR THE WARRIORS.
Amen!

© Harley

[minor49er]

I did warn you. I told you that I was close to crying myself.
Sorry.
I found a link to it on a site I was at. I am going to try to provide a link to the site, but I can't get it to load, so we'll have to see.
I think I'm going to bookmark this. And share it with my friends. T

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic of the transporter to hear (.wav file) where tomkow6 voices went.

[Soaring Feather]

A TESTAMENT OF WARRIORS © Harley

This tribute to Warriors stands as testament to todays fallen Warriors.

May God be with the families.
Our nation grieves our fallen troops murdered needlessly this day.

At times like these, words of comfort are so hard to find.
There are no words some of the time, only prayer uttered in tears and sobs.

We bow our heads in Prayer.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

CLICK HERE for .wav file for post 147

[minor49er]

I found the link to where I found it. Below you can see some people's comments on it.
http://www.protestwarrior.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php6673

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

150?

[minor49er]

BRATT TONK!!!!
I didn't even realize what number we were at.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

[Fawnn]

68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub!!! #150!!!

[The Mayor]

: )

[Soaring Feather]

minor49er,

Post #142

Thank you for posting this link. It's very moving and tears are streaming down my face.

It's so true.

bf

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Giants won"

[Kathy in Alaska]

Progress is being made. LOL! Now for the colors. See below.......

[The Mayor]

LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good job, Tonk! You got #150!!

Did you remember to eat? 2 times?

[Soaring Feather]

The Canteen

As a light house beacon warns
a ship away from dangerous shores...
We in the USO Canteen FReeper Style
offer a safe haven for our troops and their families.
May God Bless our ship The USO Canteen FReeper Style.

bentfeather
9/05/03