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

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Testament of Warriors

Excellent find, Hondo, excellent read. Thank you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Nice link, minor. A multi kleenex alert!! Thanks.

[Kathy in Alaska]

"That's the first time I've ever seen carp-to-carp walleting." GROAN!! Not bad, minor, not bad. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I am the walrus, goo goo ga choo: Karl-Heinz Hille, delgate of the Association of German Beard Clubs, arrives in Reno, Nev., for the World Beard & Moustache Championships. Accompanying him are his pet squirrels, Ludwig and Rudi.

Hmmmmm............

[Soaring Feather]

>Association of German Beard Clubs, <

Hmmmmmm...... wonder what the rest of them look like!! Should be a fun time for all.

[Fawnn]

What? He can't wear blue jeans? ;)

(The gray on the helmet is reflection, imo!)

Otherwise, black and orange, right?

[Soaring Feather]

Feathered love dances effortlessly
your gravity arcs enviously
your eyes found a vessel
for ethereal wings
you defied splendor...

***********
bentfeather
a/k/a HML
Copyright © 2003
All Rights Reserved

[Fawnn]

The next time I get one of these hair-brained ideas, somebody stop me please before I start! ;)

[Fawnn]

Beautiful! (And you remembered the shadow under your feather. AFTER I posted our dance, I remembered I hadn't added the rest of the little feets shadows. <-sigh->)

[Soaring Feather]

Oh my gosh Fawnn, that's fantastic!!!

What a scream!! ROTFLOL!!!!!


I love it!

[Fawnn]

Thanks! I need to go in search of food now. bbiab ;)

[Soaring Feather]

Thank you Fawnn.

It's always something with graphic art isn't it??

A little thing like shadows does so much to make the piece whole. Things we see everyday but do not think about. The eye usually fills in the holes for our wondering brains.

:-)

My kind of picture painting is about the same. I'm painting with words to move emotions and create mental images.

[Kathy in Alaska]

His blue jeans are neat. One can never have too many pockets. Just the shirt and helmet....yes, black and orange. LOL!! Have you napped today? Green and gold, the original colors (Green Bay Packers), can be seen on ESPN this very minute. Hehehehe!!

[HiJinx]

The two of you are fantastic when it comes to creating the mental images. Sometimes I try, but I generally stick to the ones that don't take too much interpretation.

For example, take this little chili pepper...

Ain't she some kinda hot stuff?

[HiJinx]

wowwowwowwow!!!
Fantastic!

[HiJinx]

I seem to remember catching shmack last night for not getting halloween pictures. Well, here ya go!

Her Gramma in Phoenix found this Chili Pepper costume...it is soooo appropriate! She's really getting an early start!

[Soaring Feather]

YUPPER she sure is!!

Oh gee whizzers, I love this picture!!

How tender and sweet.

Love the "Hot Stuff" Logo on Piper's suit!! LOL

This is a keeper for sure. Thanks so much for sharing your Little Piper with us.

[Hondo1952]

Excellent find, Hondo, excellent read. Thank you.

I've got a framed print of it on my wall. I got it for my 40th birthday. It has beautiful words and sentiment. I'd like to see somebody with a great voice put it to music. Maybe Emilou Harris, Toby Keith or Willie and Merle.

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL! You did in fact catch some shmack for not having pictures. Wow , Wow, and Wow, have you made up for it tonight!! She is a doll in her chili pepper outfit. She needs to be repeated. Good job, Grampa!!

[radu]

GOOD EVENING CANTEENERS!
I hope your weekend has been much more restful than mine. Trying to get the outside things done before bad weather sets in is for the birds, not lil "bats". LOL!

THANK YOU to all in the military, past and present, for your efforts and sacrifices. They're deeply appreciated.

And thank you Military men and Canteen Guyz for the lovely autumn floral arrangement. Y'all make us Gurlz feel like queens, y'know that?

I see FR is getting ready to shut down for a bit. Just my rotten luck! LOL! My timing gets worse all the time. With a little luck, it'll improve.

Have a wonderful rest of the evening, y'all. *HUGZ*
And all you troops deployed around the world, take care, stay safe. You're all in my prayers daily.