FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ~ May 27 2007

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 his 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 in I Corinthians, chapter 13. It's the "higher way" of love. I almost hesitate to use 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

1 posted on 05/26/2007 5:15:28 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier or National Guardsman
Feel alone or forgotten.
Please guide the people of Free Republic to
The FR Canteen Post Office
So they can e-mail a service man or woman today.
AMEN

Some of these links are broken. I’m using this post out of respect to Mr. Tonkin as he used this for his first post. My apologies, I’d change the broken links if I could.

Please take time this weekend to honor those warriors who we’ve lost, defending this great country. Thank a Vet. Help a Serviceman or Woman. God bless you all!!

2 posted on 05/26/2007 5:15:52 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (See HiJinx's tag line....then DO it!!!!)

To: Brad's Gramma

3 posted on 05/26/2007 5:18:25 PM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)

Hi GB....hope you’re having a nice weekend!

4 posted on 05/26/2007 5:19:29 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (See HiJinx's tag line....then DO it!!!!)

To: Brad's Gramma

(((Brad’s Gramma)))

I hit 1. ;) I will go read the thread now. Thank you for Sunday's thread! God Bless Our Heroes. They are always in our prayers.

5 posted on 05/26/2007 5:22:30 PM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)

To: Brad's Gramma

I am. Thanks! I hope you are having a great weekend too. :)

6 posted on 05/26/2007 5:23:19 PM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)

To: Brad's Gramma

Anyone else notice that the policeman was driving his squad car home?

7 posted on 05/26/2007 5:24:51 PM PDT by Popocatapetl

I think you & I have pulled a good one on ~~Kathy~~ someone...she's usually RIGHT HERE!

8 posted on 05/26/2007 5:25:15 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (See HiJinx's tag line....then DO it!!!!)

To: Popocatapetl

LOL!!! No, I did not. Welcome to the Canteen, Popocatapet1! (How DO you memorize that name?)

9 posted on 05/26/2007 5:26:04 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (See HiJinx's tag line....then DO it!!!!)

To: Brad's Gramma

I just read CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN, Sermon. How true is this. There always so much going on. We have to stop and make sure... we don’t assume the worse of the situation. :)

10 posted on 05/26/2007 5:26:23 PM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)

I liked this one...especially. :)

11 posted on 05/26/2007 5:27:50 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (See HiJinx's tag line....then DO it!!!!)

To: Brad's Gramma; Kathy in Alaska

LOL :)
Ma... Where are you? ;)

12 posted on 05/26/2007 5:29:20 PM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)

To: GodBlessUSA; Kathy in Alaska

Methinks she's sleeping?

Not that I would do something like take a nap.....

I stole the bird...

13 posted on 05/26/2007 5:32:30 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (See HiJinx's tag line....then DO it!!!!)

Well, look at that. My bird’s bigger than yoooouuuurrrrrs.

14 posted on 05/26/2007 5:32:57 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (See HiJinx's tag line....then DO it!!!!)

To: Brad's Gramma

I was disconnected from cable... I was nervous I could not get back to tell you this LOL ;)

Isn’t that bird funny ;) When I saw it... I thought of my daughter. LOL!

That's funny someone else said this to me. I always downsize my pictures. I don’t know why, my shy personality? , maybe ;),

15 posted on 05/26/2007 5:43:09 PM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)

THAT’S it! Your shy personality.

*sigh*

I know how you feel....

16 posted on 05/26/2007 5:44:16 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (See HiJinx's tag line....then DO it!!!!)

To: Brad's Gramma; xzins; bethelgrad; lightman; Katy Deacon; MoJo2001; StarCMC; txradioguy; ...

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's
Guest Military Chaplain Service

Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military.
Prayers from all denominations are needed.

Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!

17 posted on 05/26/2007 5:49:08 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

To: Brad's Gramma

Never ASSUME! Because when you ASSUME you make . . .

oh, family thread. nevermind.

TS
(watch some old "Odd Couple" reruns, you'll know what I was getting at)

18 posted on 05/26/2007 5:49:45 PM PDT by Tanniker Smith (I didn't know she was a Liberal when I married her.)

To: Brad's Gramma

You are so shy Gramma. People must wonder why you do not speak you mind. ;) LOL! You are a gem. I have thought to myself at times, it is funny that I can still be shy on a computer. Good grief ;) LOL!!!

19 posted on 05/26/2007 5:50:33 PM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)

To: Brad's Gramma; GodBlessUSA

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

20 posted on 05/26/2007 5:51:20 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

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