FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ YOU'RE THE ONE ~ 26 June 2022

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

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?f mind.

May you discover that vision.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[luvie]

Casting Crowns~Praise You In The Storm

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir~How Great Thou Art

Daniel O'Donnel~Church In The Wildwood

Statler Brothers~Amazing Grace

Gaither Vocal Band~Heaven's Joy Awaits

St. Olaf Choir~When Peace Like A River

Providence~Sweet Beulah Land

GOD BLESS YOU THIS LORD'S DAY!

[lightman]

Keep the Lord’s Day in the Lord’s way.

A blessed Third Sunday after Pentecost (Western)/Second Sunday after Pentecost (Orthodox) to all!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie!

Glad you’re having a great time with the family, even if it IS hotter ‘n hades there. That’s what AC is for. LOL Just getting to spend some time together is what counts and I’m glad everything worked out so y’all could head down there for a few days.

Pretty toasty here, too, and soooooo muggy ahead of the “cold” front working its way here. We’re supposed to get some rain tomorrow and we pray it happens.

Aren’t those cannons gorgeous? They’re functional too. The owner was a Civil War re-enactor for years and also went to big artillery shoots. But he’s now gotten old and he can’t haul those beasties around like he used to. He wanted some place to display them and approached the museum about putting them in there on loan. They were very happy to oblige.

I take the camera every time now. I’ve missed out on some pics that I still regret. Not gonna happen any more!

[luvie]

Very smart to have that camera handy for great pictures like those were. Maybe they can fire the cannons on the 4th of July. And scare the entire country to death. LOL!

Yes, it’s humid here, too. Takes forever for my hair to dry after washing. We brought a tent for the girls to use in the back yard, and it’s been to hot for them to even play in it. Piper is in a theatrical group and she had performances tonight and tomorrow night. We went to the rehearsal last night and that was more fun watching than the actual show would be to me.

[radu]

I learned my lesson the hard way when I missed out on the chance to have a pic taken with the three veterans from AL last month. Most of the time, there isn’t anything super-exciting to take pics of. New items, I can snap pics of any time but special times like meeting those vets aren’t common. One was the WWII veteran who landed on Utah Beach on D-Day whose video I posted on the D-Day thread. I would have loved a shot with all three of them because all three were such nice gentlemen. It was such a pleasure to get to talk with them as Mark took them through on a tour.
So now the camera goes up there every Friday and Saturday.

I well understand the hair not drying quickly scenario. LOL

Not really a surprise Piper would be part of a theatrical group. She seems like an outgoing young lady and would love being onstage.

[luvie]

She does well. She is not only outgoing but is focused and very mature for her age of 15. She totally doesn’t suffer fools. She is a conservative and the lib attitude drives her nuts.

I hope those vets come back again so you can get a picture with them. There will be others, though, I’ll bet. Especially with the 4th coming up.

[radu]

Her self-confidence shows in her pics.
Her attitude shows she’s had a good upbringing. :-)

I don’t know that those three vets will be back. But there will be others, as there have already been others. One never knows who will walk through the door. That’s half the fun of being there.

I had three brothers yesterday for a tour and their father fought under Gen. Patton’s command in WWII. They enjoyed the photos we have of him as well as our Camp Forrest collection and learning about it. Their father didn’t train in TN though. He trained in the CA maneuvers for North Africa where he fought to begin with, then ended up in Italy.

Even the slow days can be a lot of fun.

[luvie]

There are always good stories when there are vets involved. They’ve nearly all seen action of some kind, even though it might just be in the barracks. :) Glad you enjoyed that family of guys.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Hope you had a great day and remembered to get some rest, too.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[E.G.C.]

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

How's everyone doing this morning?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Now those are real beauties for sure! Exciting times!

Momma1 was here yesterday, but I haven’t seen her today. Her 5 are almost as big as her.

[radu]

I always enjoy what the vets have to say. Some will talk about more than others but all have a little something they’ll talk about, at the very least.
The oldest of the brothers is a Vietnam vet and he spoke quite a bit about some of his experiences when we reached the Vietnam section of the museum.

They’ll be back. One lives fairly close to the museum but the other two were visiting from out of state. They had somewhere they needed to go so we had to speed up the tour once they saw how large the museum is and how much is in there. When the two come back to visit again, they said they’ll set aside enough time to go through slowly and take it all in. I look forward to seeing them again, whenever they do come back.

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Are you and Gizmo still roasting like we are? I hope it wasn’t so crowded by the lake that Giz couldn’t hop in the water to cool off.

[luvie]

You’ll be ready and waiting and will race everyone else to get to them first next time they come. LOL!

Well, I guess I’ll finish this show and then head out. I don’t sleep well on this cot they have for me. Ouch! I’m missing my kitties, too, but know all is good or my friend would get in touch. See ya tomorrow!

[radu]

They’re even prettier in person than they are in pics. And BIG. They popped off a little primer in the one yesterday and I about jumped outta my skin. LOL I was across the room behind the Stuart, giving a tour, when they did it and I let out a loud “WOO!!!” I didn’t know they were going to do it.

Still only 5 with Momma1, huh? Sad. I hope she doesn’t lose any more. Those babies were pretty close to being the same size as Momma in the last pic I saw of them. They grow so fast.

[radu]

You bet I will. LOL Unless I’m already tied up with another tour at the time. But if not, THEY’RE MINE! They were a lot of fun.

I’m surprised you’re still up! I figured you were waking up fairly early for those fabulous breakfasts Piper whips up and would be out like a light by now. Bummer you don’t have something more comfortable to sleep on.
I understand missing the kitties. I dealt with the same the few times we were able to get away to see Dad when he was still alive. I didn’t miss scooping litter boxes every day - LOL - but I did miss the cats.
You know they’re ok and you’ll see them in a couple of days. Enjoy being with the family for now.

Catch ya tomorrow.

[E.G.C.]

Well, we have a cold front that is coming today so hopefully we will cool down some and today will be more bearable. Here are some pics from Comanche lake yesterday.

[radu]

We’re waiting for that cold front to reach us and cool us off for Monday. If you get the mid 80s that we’re expecting, you two should have a nice day for your trip to the lake. Gizmo will appreciate that. He looks pretty hot in your pics.