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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ YOU'RE THE ONE ~ 20 October 2013
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 10/19/2013 5:00:00 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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YOU'RE THE ONE
Les tells the story proudly now, with an ending that few would have 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 Mr Washington, 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 something Mr. Washington told 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
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chapel; military; troopsupport
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To: unique1; USMCPOP; JFoxbear; Dad of Chris Mason; debm29palms
![](http://patriotden.com/unique/inmemoryofourfallencomr.gif)
God Bless our military men and women who have given their all.
Thanks, unique.
41
posted on
10/19/2013 8:18:57 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: HiTech RedNeck
Our “word” for going to garage sales....as in garage saling! d:o)
A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
42
posted on
10/19/2013 8:25:23 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Old Sarge; Bride Of Old Sarge
Oh my gosh, Sarge and Bride of...how can a year have gone by so fast.
Happy 1st Anniversary, Mr & Mrs Old Sarge!!
![](http://patriotden.com/fotki/cakes__cookies/jeep-cake.jpg)
Click
43
posted on
10/19/2013 8:51:22 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Darksheare
Good evening, Darks...a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
44
posted on
10/19/2013 8:55:05 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: SkyDancer
You and your mates enjoy your time off!
45
posted on
10/19/2013 9:29:33 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: ConorMacNessa
Be very careful on those steps. My first job Monday morning is to call the stairlift folks. My Mom is not doing well making it up or down the last 5 stair steps to downstairs. We need to find a solution. I just had to go help her get down the last steps.
I got her a cane today. Hopefully she will use it for balance. She feels pretty comfortable when she can touch things, but there are places, like in the kitchen this morning, where she needs to stop and sit. She still won't use the walker, but tomorrow I will pick up the wheeled one from the friend who loaned it to us for my Dad.
46
posted on
10/19/2013 9:49:08 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: ConorMacNessa
GOD BLESS AMERICA!! God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well.
Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present.
Thank you for your service to our country.
![](http://patriotden.com/fotki/flags/maryland.gif)
![](http://patriotden.com/fotki/conormacnessa/M1_Abrams_Main_Battle_Tank.1.JPG)
47
posted on
10/19/2013 9:53:21 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Jet Jaguar
Oh my goodness, JJ...that guy knows how to write an ad. LOL!
A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
Are you done with hunting, or do you go for moose and/or caribou?
Any fish today?
48
posted on
10/19/2013 10:01:35 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Ran into some issues today.
No fishing.
I have not hunted for moose/bear/caribou yet.
I have the means. But, I need to look into it.
I really enjoyed the advertisment. He has skills.
To: Jet Jaguar
Issues are lurking everywhere! Just waiting to catch up off guard.
You couldn’t have any questions left after reading the whole ad. LOL!
50
posted on
10/19/2013 10:39:15 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
“Issues are lurking everywhere! Just waiting to catch us off guard.”
Well said.
To: Kathy in Alaska
Good evening, and a blessed evening in return!
Had a bit of a startle driving home from work.
A bird bounced off my windshield.
Left feathers allover my car, near made me wipeout.
Got home to deer swarming my driveway and said, “I’m heading straight to bed universe, you win this ridiculous round.”
52
posted on
10/19/2013 11:38:29 PM PDT
by
Darksheare
(Try my coffee, first one's free..... Even robots will kill for it!)
To: All
53
posted on
10/19/2013 11:44:56 PM PDT
by
Cindy
To: Old Sarge
I do see a pattern forming.
Happy anniversary to you Sarge and the Bride.
May you be blessed always.
We just celebrated 35 years of marriage last week; and I can most definitely recommend a long, happy marriage.
54
posted on
10/19/2013 11:48:57 PM PDT
by
Cindy
To: Kathy in Alaska
55
posted on
10/19/2013 11:58:04 PM PDT
by
Cindy
To: Cindy
Hmmmm....that is pretty interesting. I already got a 7" step stool that I keep in the car when she decides her knees won't do their job and she needs the height up to the running board cut in half (suburban). I tried to interest them in a mini van, or something, before my Dad passed, but, as usual was met with, No. Standard answer for at least a while. Things may be getting closer.
This is the set up now.....
9 steps up, now covered with the stairlift.
![](http://patriotden.com/fotki/kathy/stairlift.jpg)
Then 4 steps down to a landing and 1 more with a left turn.
![](http://patriotden.com/fotki/kathy/stairlift2.jpg)
I've put hand rails on the left and across the back, and she ALWAYS uses them. My thought so far is we can close off the door to the left and add one dead ahead, into a hall, for more stairlift.
I'm going to have to keep a close eye out for a couple weeks and see if the cane gives her more confidence. She says the stairs are a mental issue as well...."can I do this without my knees buckling"?
56
posted on
10/20/2013 12:50:21 AM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
That looks quite sturdy, Kathy.
Good job.
57
posted on
10/20/2013 1:07:08 AM PDT
by
Cindy
To: Old Sarge
A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.
Happy anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Old Sarge!!!!!!! Here's to many more of these.
58
posted on
10/20/2013 1:19:24 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
To: Kathy in Alaska
((HUGS))Good morning, Kathy. How’s it going?
59
posted on
10/20/2013 1:19:48 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
To: Kathy in Alaska
60
posted on
10/20/2013 1:20:03 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
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