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FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ A GREAT MARINE ~ August 6 2006
chaplaincare.navy.mil ^ | Chaplain Mitch Schranz

Posted on 08/05/2006 4:56:46 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub


 

 



A GREAT MARINE

Several years ago as the H & S Battalion Chaplain at MCB, Camp Lejeune, I visited the people in the different work spaces, including the rather large main post office.
One day a little conversation took place with young Marine Lance Corporal.
This unplanned encounter has remained with me, and it seems worth passing on...


The Lance Corporal was standing by a very large sack of mail. His job, every day, six days a week for many hours was to sort the mail from that large sack and place the letters into smaller sacks, depending upon their destination. He explained his job, and I asked him if he ever gets bored. "Chaplain," he said," this is all I do. Just sort all these endless piles of letters. Sometimes I can't take it anymore." I was drawn into the young Marine's lament and his life's drama started to sound interesting. He continued, "Then, just as it gets to be overwhelming, I'm holding a letter in my hand and I begin to think: Maybe this letter is going from a Marine wife in Jacksonville all the way to her husband on deployment in the Med. He's really misses her and is homesick on that big ship. Then he gets the letter and suddenly he feels much better. The next letter in my hand, I think: Maybe it's from a little boy to his Daddy in Somalia. He drew a picture with crayons to cheer his Dad and put it in the envelope. Each letter makes me wonder because this one may change a life for the better, or at least bring a smile to a lonely Marine or Sailor."

I was shaken by the majesty this young Lance Corporal displayed and said this to him: "Young man, you possess a wisdom rarely found in people who are triple your years. You have more than wisdom, though, you have character and maturity. Indeed you have found the secret to happiness in life. Whatever you wish to achieve, it will undoubtedly one day be yours...it would be a great honor if you would allow me to shake you hand..."

Whenever we face frustrating moments or disappointments in our work day, let's all remember that young Lance Corporal and follow his heroic and inspiring example!

"Give thy servant, therefore, an understanding heart."

King Solomon's prayer in First Kings


Chaplain Mitch Schranz

 






TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: chaplain
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To: E.G.C.

Blush....thank you, E.G.C.

:-) It's good to have been born!


61 posted on 08/06/2006 8:24:11 AM PDT by bannie (HILLARY: Not all perversions are sexual.)
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To: Gucho; All

I wanna' thank you all for my birthday wishes!

It's nice to be remembered...even as a lurker!

hugs and smooches, all around.

Whoever remembered...special smooches!!

(I haven't read all of them yet...I was just looking in my pings, and saw these.)


62 posted on 08/06/2006 8:27:44 AM PDT by bannie (HILLARY: Not all perversions are sexual.)
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To: bannie
Hi Bannie!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

63 posted on 08/06/2006 9:40:24 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You! Prayers said for our Heroes!)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Kathy in Alaska; All

Beautiful Chapel post Tonk!
Thank you so much!
A Blessed and peacful Sunday to the Troops and my Canteen family..
Love to all...
Ms.B


64 posted on 08/06/2006 9:43:42 AM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)
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To: bannie

HAPPY BITRHDAY BANNIE!
*HUG*
Ms.B


65 posted on 08/06/2006 9:54:53 AM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)
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To: mylife

Ya hungry my?
Brunch is ready!
fresh coffee!
Carrot juice, Ms.B's Red flannel hash and eggs..
pan fried texas toast
Pull up a chair!
*hug*
Ms.B


66 posted on 08/06/2006 9:57:48 AM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

Hey dere!
You can keep the carrot juice ;) Can I get 'mater instead? Hmmm?
The rest sounds yummy.

I love a hearty breakfast, ya gotta keep up your strength ya know.
Ya never know when you might be called on to say.....
Pull someone out of a well ;)


67 posted on 08/06/2006 10:23:55 AM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

68 posted on 08/06/2006 10:39:32 AM PDT by El Gran Salseron (The FR Canteen's World Famous Resident Equal Opportunity Male Chauvinist Pig! Got it? :-))
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To: Kathy in Alaska; All

HI everyone!!


69 posted on 08/06/2006 11:19:30 AM PDT by txradioguy (In Memory Of My Friend 1SG Tim Millsap A Co. 70th Eng. K.I.A. 25 April 2005)
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To: All

God bless those of you who serve this country. May God continue to help you with your missions and bring you home safely to your families.
God bless you always from a thankful nation!
((hugs))


70 posted on 08/06/2006 11:20:27 AM PDT by MeekMom (Obey the Lord Jesus, the benefits are great!)
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To: mylife

LOL!!
one never knows does one?
'Mater juice coming up!
ms.B


71 posted on 08/06/2006 11:25:28 AM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN; mylife

You guys...!!

So, what is Red flannel hash?


72 posted on 08/06/2006 11:37:24 AM PDT by HiJinx (Have you hugged a soldier today? Try it, you'll like it!)
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To: HiJinx

Taters
onions
corned beef
and Beets

I could live without the beets ;)


73 posted on 08/06/2006 11:41:41 AM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

Pretty skerry day for yall yesterday


74 posted on 08/06/2006 11:42:18 AM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: mylife; MS.BEHAVIN

Beets can be an acquired tasted, but I think I could at least try hash like that.

Y'all have a great Lord's Day, we're headed to Tucson for a visit with our youngest and a little big-town shopping.

See everyone a little later.


75 posted on 08/06/2006 11:44:36 AM PDT by HiJinx (Have you hugged a soldier today? Try it, you'll like it!)
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To: HiJinx

Have a good time Jinxy


76 posted on 08/06/2006 11:47:20 AM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: mylife; HiJinx

It really was..
I was afriad to hurt Mr.B..
BTW I did not put beets in the hash this morning
I tried it once like that. I can live without it!
LOL
Ms.B


77 posted on 08/06/2006 11:47:57 AM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

Im glad it all worked out OK.

BTW the beets are what make it red I suppose, but we can use louisiana hot sauce to a similar effect right? ;)


78 posted on 08/06/2006 11:52:55 AM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: mylife; NYTexan; LUV W; laurenmarlowe; AZamericonnie; trussell; StarCMC

Right you are!
You and I are gonna team up and cook for the gang, right?
I can hardly wait!
I've had you on my mind this afternoon, my..
I been puttering around in the rustic sunporch..
buffalo skull hangin' on the wall..
Old rugged chairs and a big ol sofa..
Gonna install a amall wood stove out there this fall..
I think you'll like it out there!
Ms.B


79 posted on 08/06/2006 11:58:03 AM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

One of these days Im gonna have a screen porch with a wood stove and an internet connection ;)


80 posted on 08/06/2006 12:08:55 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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