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]

Email on the way. 15 minute countdown. I need to hurry on catching up.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I'm glad, Hondo, that you came and helped honor our troops. The Canteen is a place where we all work together to make a safe haven for our military to come, put their feet up, enjoy the company, hear some jokes, see all of us carry on with our daily lives. Glad you were here.

[radu]

Whew!! Glad to here that's all they lost, considering what they were dealing with. Things could've been so much worse.

The firefighters have been absolutely amazing out there. My lil straw farm hat is definitely off to them.

You knooooow I'm also glad to hear the roadster was saved. :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oops! It was on an hour and a half ago, and I don't see a repeat.

[Fawnn]

The name of the program is Top 5, btw; episode is actually "Decadent Desserts."

They're showing "Golden Desserts" now.

The gold-coated strawberries look awesome floated in champagne! I wonder how they'd look in Mountain Dew. LOL

The gold was #2. The fancy schmancy cakes are #1. (So maybe no gold on them. I should pay more attention, I guess, but you know how it goes when the TV is background noise.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

To our Military -

Thank you for protecting US. Sleep well and safe. May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

********************* To those of our Military and Allies who lost their lives in this past week - May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted. May your/our country remember.

[Fawnn]

Web site didn't show a repeat for here either, but it came on at 3:30 a.m. EST.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A "job well done" to your daughter.

[radu]

WHOA!!!! Glad I have to go to Wally World tonight!! After seeing that luscious treat, I'm gonna have to grab something rich to snack on! LOL!!!

I wish I could stick something like that in the boxes I'm mailing off to Iraq in the morning. I guess the guys will have to settle for what I'm able to send. I just have to grab a couple more things to fill out the boxes then they'll be sealed up. My favorite kind of shopping....for our troops.

[radu]

Good night troops, wherever you may be. May God watch over you and keep you from harm.

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

Time for bed. God Bless all our troops, their families, our veterans and our Israeli, British, Australian, Polish, and Italian allies. We pray for your safe and soon return. Thank you for doing the jobs you do to keep this UNITED STATES OF AMERICA safe. We love you all.

 

 

Thank you to all who enter the Canteen. Salute!

 

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

 

 

Wherever you are, God is, and all is well! Amen.

 

[Fawnn]

Margaret Braun. She's written several books about her cakes (or had several books ghostwritten). Here's one:

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

NEW THREAD

[beachn4fun]

Auntie Fawnn....you just keep getting better-n-better. I knew many of you were talented, but gee I am impressed!