FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ RESERVATIONS ~ 05 March 2023

The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

RESERVATIONS

Recently, someone stopped by my office, handed me two sheets of paper, and said something to the effect of, "You're always sharing something with people; here's something for you." Then he was gone. Like so many encounters we have along life's way, this one was brief. But it left a lasting impression...and brightened my whole day. The article is definitely a "keeper". Originally written by Jonathan Lee for the Washington Post, it is entitled "Reservations of an Airline Agent". I've abbreviated it due to limited space, but the point is unchanged. Enjoy!

"I work in the central reservation office of an airline company. After more than 130,000 conversations -- all ending with "Have a nice day and thanks for calling" -- I think it's fair to say I'm a survivor.

"I've made it through all the calls from adults who don't know the difference between a.m. and p.m., from mothers of military recruits who didn't trust their little soldiers to get it right, from the woman who wanted advice on how to handle her teenage daughter, from the man who wanted to ride inside the kennel with his dog so he wouldn't have to pay for a seat, from the woman who wanted to know why she had to change clothes on our flight between Chicago and Washington (she was told she'd have to make a change between the two cities) and from the man who asked if I'd like to discuss the existential humanism that emanates from the soul of Habeeb.

"My battles have included everything from a man not knowing how to spell the name of the town he was from, to another not recognizing "Iowa" as being a state, to another who thought he had to apply for a foreign passport to fly to West Virginia.

"I talked to a woman in Denver who had never heard of Cincinnati, a man in Minneapolis who didn't know there was more than one city in the South ("wherever the South is"), and a man in Dallas who tried to pay for his ticket by sticking quarters in the pay phone he was calling from.

"A woman wanted to fly to Hippopotamus, NY. After assuring her there was no such city, she became irate and said it was a big city with a big airport. I asked if Hippopotamus was near Albany or Syracuse. It wasn't. Then I asked if it was near Buffalo. 'Buffalo!' she said, "I knew it was a big animal".

"Then a man tried to catch our flight to Maconga. I told him I'd never heard of Maconga and we certainly didn't fly to it. But he insisted we did and to prove it he showed me his ticket: Macon, GA. "Half (of the people) will not have thought about when they're returning. A third won't know where they are going; 10 percent won't care where they're going. A few won't care if they get back. "You just have to shake your head in amazement! But it reminds me of a time when Jesus talked with his apostles about a trip he was taking. As I recall, there was a lot of confusion about that trip as well.

"'I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.' Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?' (John 14:2b-5)

"With all the patience of an airline ticket agent, Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'." (John 14:6) "What a glorious trip lies ahead. I hope you've made your reservations!"

Amen, and blessings on your journey.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ RESERVATIONS, and Liberty

Lt. Charles F. Suver, CHC, USN, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
"Mass at Iwo Jima"

Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military.
Prayers from all denominations are needed.



Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!

[The Mayor]

March 5

God Knows Us

Bible in a Year:

• Numbers 34–36
• Mark 9:30–50

You know me, Lord.

Jeremiah 12:3 I recently saw a photograph of Michelangelo’s sculpture Moses, in which a close-up view showed a small bulging muscle on Moses’ right arm. This muscle is the extensor digiti minimi, and the contraction only appears when someone lifts their pinky. Michelangelo, known as a master of intricate details, paid close attention to the human bodies he sculpted, adding intimate features most everyone else would miss. Michelangelo knew the human body in ways few other sculptors have, but the details he carved into granite were his attempts to reveal something deeper—the soul, the interior life of human beings. And, of course, there Michelangelo always fell short.

Only God knows the deepest realities of the human heart. Whatever we see of one another, no matter how attentive or insightful it might be, is only a shadow of the truth. But God sees deeper than the shadows. “You know me, Lord,” the prophet Jeremiah said; “you see me” (12:3). God’s knowledge of us isn’t theoretical or cerebral. He doesn’t observe us from a distance. Rather, He peers into the hidden realities of who we are. God knows the depths of our interior lives, even those things we struggle to understand ourselves.  

No matter our struggles or what’s going on in our hearts, God sees us and truly knows us.

Reflect & Pray

What makes you feel alone, isolated, or unseen? How does it change things to realize that God knows you?

Dear God, this world can be a lonely place, but I’m astounded at how truly You know me. It fills me with wonder and joy.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

Great sermon today.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Reservist, National Guardsman, or Merchant Marine
feel alone or forgotten.

O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is loving kindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7 & 8

[Kathy in Alaska]

Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.

[TigerHawk]

Hey Kathy,

So, we got maybe 6”- 8” of snow last night, Wet, heavy, and melting already. It’s still above freezing, and will be in the mid to high 40’s for the next few days. Thought how you would probably go for that deal. Barring a Nor’easter (not at all uncommon for these parts this time of year), we’re about done with Winter this year. Wasn’t so bad.

I bet you just shake your head at the notion of Groundhog Day!

Shavuah Tov!, to you and yours!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Hope you got to relax and work on your car.

And a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[SkyDancer]

~ Hai All - Home Again! ~

~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
for a safe and peaceful week ahead.

[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.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Hope you are still avoiding snow, and the ice has departed.

It was -12 early, but it’s made it up to 19 now.

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL! The groundhog has nary a clue if/when he comes out.

Glad all those inches are already melting. I’ll be surprised (if we get no more snow) if we don’t still have melting snow in May.

Thanks, and Shavuah Tov to you and yours as well.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening and welcome home, Janey! ((HUGS)) Shavua Tov and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Where did you get to fly folks this time? Good weather going and coming?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome Troops, Veterans, Families, and Allies!
God Bless You and Keep You Safe.

Thanks, unique, for our troop blessing.

[lightman]

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

A blessed Second Sunday in Lent (Western)/Sunday of Orthodoxy (Orthodox) to all!

[luvie]

Blessed Union Of Souls~I Believe

Dallas Christian Choir~How Beautiful

Casting Crowns~Praise You In The Storm

Providence~O Come Angel Band

Glen Campbell~The Savior I Sing Of Today

The Trevecca Madrigalians~It Is Well With My Soul

Jeff Beck~Amazing Grace

Have a Blessed Sunday

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[left that other site]

It was mostly freezing rain all day, but we will see what tomorrow brings.

I am headed for bed now.

(((HUGS)))