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Freeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel Thread ~ YOU’RE THE ONE ~ November 21, 2010
The Canteen Crew ^ | November 20, 2010 | Serving The Best Troops In The UNIVERSE AND BEYOND!

Posted on 11/20/2010 5:10:16 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma


 
 

 

 


 


YOU’RE THE ONE



Lees tells the story proudly now. With an ending is one that few would ever predicted when he was in high school. He remembers the turning point as though it were yesterday. Just a chance encounter and an offhand comment... but it changed his life forever.

He had slipped quietly into the back of a classroom to wait for a friend that day. The last thing he wanted was to be noticed. But the teacher asked him to go to the board and work out a problem. Les pointed out that he wasn't a student in that class. "It doesn't matter," said the teacher. "Go do it anyway." Les protested that he couldn't. Somewhat embarrassed, he added, "Because I'm 'Educable Mentally Retarded'."

At that point, the teacher came out from behind his desk, looked at the embarrassed teenager and challenged him, "Don't ever say that again. Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality."

The students laughed, of course, but Les didn't really mind so much. In a way, it was as though the teacher's comment had set him free. Someone had looked at him and seen possibilities. Les had never dared hope for that before. Perhaps he COULD move beyond the limits others had placed on him. Today, Les explains his awakening with the words of Goethe: "Look at a man the way that he is, he only becomes worse. But look at him as if he were what he could be, and then he becomes what he should be." That's how Mr. Washington became Les's mentor, and a constant source of inspiration.

While still a junior, Les heard Mr. Washington tell some graduating seniors. "You have greatness within you. If just one of you can get a glimpse of a larger vision of yourself, of who you really are, ... the world will never be the same again. ... You can touch millions of people's lives."

The amazing thing is that Les Brown did indeed go on to realize his dream. He has since produced a number of specials that have been shown on public television. As his old mentor had once predicted, once he found that "larger glimpse of himself," Les was able to "touch the lives of millions."

Even if we're "successful," I suspect most of us never catch that vision, never understand how special we are. Not really. We're too busy trying to be someone else. After all, we are constantly bombarded by powerful messages telling us what attributes society finds most desirable. And we respond by trying to make ourselves over in that image. For many, it's not even a matter of being the best looking, the brightest, or the most admired. It's a quest just to be "normal." Even big egos can be a way of hiding a sense of inadequacy, or a cry for attention.

The Bible's message is quite different. It reminds us that each person is created in God's image, with unique gifts and potential. No one else can make our contribution. Or take advantage of our opportunities. Or affect the world in just our way. Who knows the difference YOU might make if you were to discover that larger vision?

May you discover that vision.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chaplain; military; troopsupport
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To: All

Update on NY Liars NK story

mpoppel Michael van Poppel
REU: NORTH KOREA TOLD U.S. NUCLEAR TEAM IT HAD 2,000 CENTRIFUGES INSTALLED, OPERATING - SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH MATTER

mpoppel Michael van Poppel
RT @WireUpdate: North Koreans unveil new, secret plant for nuclear use - http://bit.ly/aXjd6A

Reuters Reuters Top News
FLASH: U.S. nuclear team unable to confirm number of working centrifuges, but saw “hundreds” of them: source
3 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply


41 posted on 11/20/2010 6:56:06 PM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us ,resistance is futile")
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To: SoldierDad; vigilante2; PERKY2004; jackv; Jemian; Azbushgal; LUV W; mystery-ak; armymarinemom; ...
Thanks, Military Families, for your service to our country.


John Conlee ~ They Also Serve


42 posted on 11/20/2010 7:05:13 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Brad's Gramma

Happy Lord’s Day


43 posted on 11/20/2010 7:16:11 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: left that other site
(Did I tell you the soil in Florida is full of ROCKS?)

No, but if it's anything like our soil, you work hard at doing all that gardening. That's why we no longer garden. Can't dig an inch without hitting solid rock. Lots of low maintenance yards up here!

44 posted on 11/20/2010 7:36:58 PM PST by oldteen
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To: SandRat
Evenin' Sandy! *hugs*

A Blessed Sunday to you and yours!

45 posted on 11/20/2010 7:38:03 PM PST by oldteen
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To: oldteen

There are so many rocks, I am able to make BORDERS out of them, around the ENTIRE Perimeter!


46 posted on 11/20/2010 7:49:42 PM PST by left that other site (Your MiQ-MaQ Paddy Wacky Bass-Playing Biker Buddy(El Kabong))
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To: left that other site

Yep...here as well! Some of them are HUGE!


47 posted on 11/20/2010 8:07:37 PM PST by oldteen
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To: oldteen

The cool thing is that they are coral, so they have bits of Ocean fossils embedded in them, and look very cool, once the dirt is washed off!


48 posted on 11/20/2010 8:24:41 PM PST by left that other site (Your MiQ-MaQ Paddy Wacky Bass-Playing Biker Buddy(El Kabong))
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To: left that other site
The majority of ours is just limestone, granite, asbestos or shale. The shale, once you get it out of the ground, leaving it sit, in short order it will just crumble.

I have a feeling this area was once underwater as not only the rocks found but...our last dog (shephard mix) was crazy about digging. She would dig holes very deep. She would find all kinds of shells. And huge bones!

49 posted on 11/20/2010 8:41:47 PM PST by oldteen
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To: All


50 posted on 11/20/2010 9:18:59 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: oldteen

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours, teen.


51 posted on 11/20/2010 9:20:44 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Jet Jaguar; txradioguy; Laurita; CMS; OneLoyalAmerican; tongue-tied; Defender2; Beagle8U; ...
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 gave their all,
- May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted.
May your/our country always remember.


52 posted on 11/20/2010 9:34:57 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: oldteen

Photos? Of course! Need to get them downloaded and uplinked.


53 posted on 11/20/2010 9:39:52 PM PST by PERKY2004 (Proud wife of a military pilot ~ Please pray for him (he's deployed!))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Thank you Kathy. Same to you. Hope you really get some relaxing time this vacation.


54 posted on 11/20/2010 10:59:38 PM PST by oldteen
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To: PERKY2004

We’ll wait. No hurry. Spend every available moment with hubby! :)


55 posted on 11/20/2010 11:00:32 PM PST by oldteen
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To: Kathy in Alaska; perky
I'm out of here for tonight!

Have a wonderful Sunday! *hugs*

56 posted on 11/20/2010 11:08:50 PM PST by oldteen
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To: oldteen
Good night and sleep tight, teen...*HUGS*...
57 posted on 11/20/2010 11:19:32 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: All

The Lord's Prayer

58 posted on 11/20/2010 11:21:15 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: txradioguy; sxytxredhead73
A Blessed Lord's Day to the family in Germany.


The 23rd Psalm

Prayers for your safety and success of mission, tx, in Kandahar.


59 posted on 11/20/2010 11:35:21 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: StarCMC; SoldierDad; spotbust1; jaycee; Poetgal26; All

Shorty GiggleLips & the Canteen Kids – click

60 posted on 11/20/2010 11:40:19 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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