FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ The Gift of The Magi ~ 16 December 2012

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

Those of you who are more "mature" Marines & Sailors will remember one of the pre-eminent TV series of the '50's, Rod Serling's Twilight Zone. Many of these programs were quite scary, but they usually had a good moral and made the point in a rather unforgettable manner.

On one episode, an astronaut is readying for his blast off on a fifty-year mission to outer space. He is to be placed in a state of suspended animation and will not age one day by the time he returns to Earth. As fate has it, he meets a lovely woman the evening before launch, and it is love at first sight for both of them. They agonize over the love and marriage they will be unable to share because of the space voyage. The next morning his space flight begins. The woman is visibly shaken by the cruel plot fate played on the two of them.

In the final scene, fifty years hence, NASA brings the rocket back to Earth. The capsule is opened and an aged man emerges from inside. He pulled the plug on the cryogenic machine before the launch. The face of his fiancée is then shown. She is still young and vibrant; she had herself placed in suspended animation on the day of the launch! One engineer then reflects: I feel blessed to have met two people who truly knew the meaning of love! End of program.

These two people, motivated by real love, were prepared to make an unusual sacrifice for each other. Sometimes we forget that keeping love strong in marriage requires a commitment to LOVE...and like any commitment that means dedication, work, sacrifice. Too many people give up on relationships when the going gets rough because they don't understand how much effort and sacrifice for one another is necessary to sustain a marriage. May we all realize the true meaning of love and marriage...and what is required to sustain this wonderful gift from above!

Rod Serling's version

 

[Lady Jag]

Ice is the worst, I agree. We didn’t ice up. It’s actually 54º in southeast MA. Otherwise it’s cucky outside.

[trisham]

It’s 34 degrees here. Almost tropical. :)

[Lady Jag]

Mid 40s and diving fast, it got wicked dark about an hour ago. Was in the midst of writing and suddenly couldn’t see. Plus all the cats went to sleep.

[trisham]

It’s 33 degrees here and almost completely dark. A light rain is falling. All of the dogs are asleep.

[Lady Jag]

Do you think we should follow the fur babies’ example and sleep? Looking at sleeping cats is making me drowsy.

[trisham]

I’d love to take a nap, but it’s too late. I should have taken one earlier. I can’t believe that Christmas is next week! Our Christmas cards were delivered today. I have to address envelopes tonight and have them ready to mail tomorrow. Oy.

[Lady Jag]

I just found the card I bought last Christmas for this Christmas after looking in all the wrong places.

We are in a similar boat. I should start wrapping, too.

I wish I knew magic ways to get it done.

[trisham]

This Christmas we’re sending a card with a picture of two of our dogs in front of the fire with a printed message. That cuts down on about two-thirds of the work. All I have to do is address the envelope and stick on a return address label and stamp. What an attitude, eh? :)

[Lady Jag]

Trisha, I was about to do the same thing when I discovered it was too late so I have double duty tonight.

[trisham]

If you have any last minute presents to give, I placed an order with this company either Saturday or Sunday, and received it today. So far, we’ve sampled the Thai coconut curry cashew clusters, which are delicious:

http://www.nuts.com/

They have an amazing selection, including gift baskets, and are located in Connecticut.

[Lady Jag]

Thank you. I’ll take a look at it.

Dinner calls.

[mountainlion]

http://www.hallindsey.com/

Whether or not you like Hal he has a good presentation of the Maji.