FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ HIGH FLIGHT ~ 08 March 2015

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

HIGH FLIGHT

John Gillespie Magee, Jr. was a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Shortly before his plane was shot down during World War II, he wrote a poem called "High Flight." The last stanza reads:

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

John Magee was only nineteen years old when he wrote these words. Today this poem is held sacred by pilots throughout the world.

The first time I heard this verse was in April on an early morning, meditation TV program, one of those which starts the day. As the words were read, the film showed a solitary jet plane soaring straight up as if to the heavens, straining to reach its limits, then twirling and moving in the air with a sense of graceful dignity. Somehow a true sense of awe was communicated, and I have ever since felt that when reading this stanza.

It speaks to me of a sense of freedom and grace, of reaching beyond one's limits, as if beyond oneself, conveying a sense of unity with God and nature. There are several phrases in the poem which I like to reflect upon. One of these is "silent, lifting mind," which is a goal I have in prayer - to have a silent, lifting mind unto God.

John Magee ends this verse with words which express a heightened spiritual awareness: "... and while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high, untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God." That, my friends, is called a "holy moment," a moment when you experience a deep, personal encounter with God, when you and your God are one. Rabbi Abraham Heschel, a leading Jewish theologian, says there are three things needed for a holy moment to occur: "God, a soul and a moment, and the three things are always here," he assures us. Three things: God, a soul and a moment. What you and I must do is be open to that God and live as if we were a soul, a sacred whole being ... and then cherish moments, one at a time. For John Gillespie Magee, Jr. the feelings he had when flying were cherished, sacred moments. This is a "felt" experience, which is hard to describe in words.

Based on what could have been seen as routine ops for a pilot, this 19 year old wrote a poem which long outlived his brief life, a poem which has since become inspiration to millions for its depth and poetic beauty. I suggest such is not only possible for you but exists each day in your daily routine, that is, if you open your heart and mind to seeing and experiencing sacred moments as did John Magee.

For me, John Magee is a champion, not only because he died a hero's death in WW II, but because he saw beyond the "here and the now" and the superficial frustrations of everyday life, to that which is greater and beyond us all.

CAPT Jane F. Vieira, CHC, USN

 

[Soaring Feather]

Chapel Flowers

[Kathy in Alaska]

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

G-d bless and keep your children safe, Alouette.

[PROCON]

Hi Ma, yup, I got back home yesterday and am seeing great, 20-20 vision again, although I'll still use reading glasses.

It's the difference between night and day with my improved vision, just amazing.

It took my brain a while to get both my eyes to work together again, so now it's just using eye drops and sleeping with a guard over my eye for a week.

Woo-Hoo, feeling great! Thank you VA!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, dadfly, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

You’re welcome for the memory. And thanks for the link.

[SandRat]

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Benign would be nice, I’ll bet.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[left that other site]

I can still hear, in my mind, Ronald reagan reciting that poem.

Blessed Sunday to All..I am heading for bed after a long night of work..and I lose an hour of sleep on top of it!

God Bless.

See You in the morning.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, ML...((HUGS))...I missed the whole evening as my cable box died, probably due to old age per the tech.

He said I can go to the store and pick up a new one, plug it in, and it should work after about 20 minutes as it finds the signal. So that is my mission.

A Blessed Lord’s Day and Shavua Tov to you and yours.

May the choir enjoy themselves praising The Lord.

Sent from my iPad

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Ms Feather, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Beautiful Chapel flowers. Thank you.

My internet cable box died, probably of old age said the tech.

Sent from my iPad

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Janey...((HUGS))...Shavua Tov and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

In mid response last night, to you, my internet cable box died.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

Sent from my iPad

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, Wiz-Nerd, And Shavua Tov to you and yours.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless and keep safe our troops worldwide. Good night.

http://denalidomain.com/sdy/stlrbros-hwgrtthart.mp3

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Sunday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Kathy. How's it going?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[left that other site]

Does Alaska change the clocks?

It’s very disconcerting. I hate losing sleep for no good reason! :-)

[luvie]

But you got it done! Whew! I never did see the ping last night. LOL!

[luvie]

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the
Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

Providence~O Come Angel Band.wma

Providence~Thomas's Song.wma

Providence~He Is Ever Over Me.wma

Providence~Lord Feed Your Children.wma

Providence~Amazing Grace.wma

Providence~Sweet Beulah Land

HAVE A BLESSED LORD'S DAY!

[E.G.C.]

Sunday music bump.

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How's it going?