FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE MAN IN THE GLASS ~ 06 November 2011

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

THE MAN IN THE GLASS

I first heard the poem some years ago as a song performed by a former pop musician turned Christian entertainer. Its words had a powerful impact. They were a challenge to self-examination, and a warning about the consequences of life lived without integrity. They were a reminder that each of us must live with his or her self. And that we KNOW what's behind our image, no matter how carefully crafted, or how convincing it may be to others. I wonder if it might also speak to you. It's entitled "The Man in the Glass."

"When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you king for a day, Just go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what THAT man has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or wife whose judgment upon you must pass. The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life is the one staring back from the glass. Some people might think you're a straight-shootin' chum and call you a wonderful guy, but the man in the glass says you're only a bum if you can't look him straight in the eye. He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he's with you clear up to the end. And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test if the guy in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years, and get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be heartaches and tears If you've cheated on the man in the glass."

Was this poem written by a pastor to caution his congregation, or by an educator seeking to energize our conscience and encourage some set of core values? No. But I didn't know that, didn't know the REST of the story until this week. It seems that newspaper columnist Ann Landers received it some years ago from a young woman in Louisiana. In her letter, the young woman requested that the author's name be kept anonymous. He had died a few weeks earlier, you see, after years of struggling with a drug habit. He was only twenty-four years old. Hopefully, we can learn the lessons he discovered without repeating his mistakes. As a quote from a Farmer's Almanac of the late 1700s phrased it, "Eny dern fool kin learn from experience...; it takes a smart feller to learn from someone else's experience!"

In the end, our ability to learn from that man or woman in the glass depends on the power of our conscience. But sometimes a conscience can be an untrustworthy guide. We may feel guilty about the wrong kinds of things. Or we may not feel guilty about ANYTHING. The Bible speaks of people whose consciences have been "seared" as with a hot iron. (I Timothy 4:2) The modern term for such a person is "sociopathic." Such a person, it is said, may even be able to pass a lie detector test while lying because they feel no guilt, shame or remorse. Their conscience is clear only because it is nonexistent. Better we should DEVELOP our conscience, and inform it through a study of the timeless truth in God's word. James warned, "If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." (1:23-24)

Here's to hoping that all of us will take a good look, and learn from that man or woman in the glass.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[ConorMacNessa]

Up to 25? Wow! We're falling through the 40's right now - supposed to bottom out at freezing later tonight.

Sir Winston is doing great, thanks! He got some good doggie treats for Halloween. I think we had a grand total of four kids all night for Trick or Treat. Not too many little children in our neighborhood these days.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless our military men and women who have given their all.

Thanks, unique.

[oldteen]

I think I’ll use it to bake some cookies.

Sounds like a real winner! :)

[oldteen]

Good evening, Sir Conor! *hugs*

Wishing the MacNessa family a Sunday of Blessing!

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL! You shore did....the same one you lost in the spring. d:o)

What kind of cookies ya gonna bake?

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Teenie!

*HUGS*

A Blessed Lord's Day to you! Tomorrow is my first Sunday back to Choir since before my surgery.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

How’s the new motorcycle?

[oldteen]

Good for you! I read a few days ago where you had been to choir practice.

The knee coming along OK?

[left that other site]

Good Evening Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, HJ, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and Nana and the family.

[ColdOne]

He hasn’t been able to ride it yet. Snow on the ground!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Military Families, for your service to our country.

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[ConorMacNessa]

Knee is coming along nicely, thanks. I've been either cantoring or singing with the choir in my parish since 1992. It's important to me to be able to raise my voice in praise of the Lord. My 22 year old daughter also sings in our choir. She joined when she was in 7th grade and has stayed with it since then except when she was away at college.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[BykrBayb]

Chocolate chip. I can’t find my recipe, so I’ll have to use the one on the package. I moved about a year ago, and haven’t found my cookbook yet. It took me 20 years to develop my chocolate chip cookie recipe, making little changes over the years. I guess I’ll just have to start over.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound....

Thanks, Mac.

[Old Sarge]

Good Evening, ladies!

Lovely heat in my lovely room, surfing on my lovely laptop.

[oldteen]

Good evening, ColdOne! *hugs*

Cold enough up there, yet? ;)

How's the pup doing?

[Kathy in Alaska]

And a good evening to you, teen...*HUGS*

How are your allergies behaving?

I took my Dad for his finger stick and he is just a tad high. Then took them for flu shots. After almost an hour’s wait out in the parking lot, they came out without shots. They said something is wrong with my Dad’s Medicare card.

So...maybe Monday. If it doesn’t snow, my Dad can probably drive. If it does snow, I’ll take a couple hours off and take them.

[SandRat]

[oldteen]

Evenin' HJ! *hugs*

Nice to 'see' you.

Everything going good in your little corner of AZ?