FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ~ 17 September 2023

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

MAKING ASSUMPTIONS

A story making the rounds this past week told of a policeman who was heading home after a long, hard day on patrol. He had dealt with a whole succession of difficult people, and a mountain of frustrating paperwork. All he wanted at this point was to kick back, unwind, enjoy some peace and quiet, and maybe watch a few innings of baseball on TV. But, as he neared home, he was startled by a vehicle that came careening around a sharp curve and narrowly missed his squad car. As the car passed within a few inches of him, the other driver shouted "Pig!" The police officer was suddenly energized. He slammed on his brakes, all set to turn his squad car around and head off in hot pursuit. But, as he rounded the curve, he ran head-on into a large pig that was standing in the middle of the road!

It's a lesson we learn early in life if we're lucky...DON'T ASSUME! No matter how confident we are in our understanding of the issue, no matter how certain of another's reasoning or motives, no matter how obvious the point may be to US, effective communication is far more complicated and difficult than we think. With barriers like cultural differences, personal "filters", different definitions, etc., it's amazing that any of us EVER understand one another. But these aren't the most difficult obstacles. The biggest reason we aren't able to hear what another is saying to us is simply... "fear"!

Oh, we may camouflage it behind anger, self-importance or any number of other false fronts, but at the root is fear. Fear of being "found out", or of being disappointed, or of not getting what we want. It's a powerful if crippling motivator. And most of us can summon up plenty of reasons why we shouldn't take another at face value. Honest communication requires trust, and taking a risk. And we've been burned too many times. So we settle for safety, make the natural assumption, and run head-on into our own version of that pig as we journey down life's highway!

There is a better way...a way that recognizes our similarities, that sees others as a source of community and healing, that looks past our own frustration and previous disappointments to explore the possibility that even a "stranger" may have something positive to say. The Apostle Paul described it in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13. It's the "higher way" of love. I almost hesitate to use that term these days because of the way our culture misuses it. But when you read Paul's description, try substituting "maturity". It's a perfect fit. The risks are higher for this way of living, but so are the rewards.

Another (anonymous) writer cautions:

"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self. To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd, is to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live. Chained by their certitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free."

That doesn't mean we should be naive. It does mean we should be careful what we assume. Check it out. Give others the benefit of the doubt. And if someone shouts something unexpected at us, at least entertain the possibility that perhaps it may be more than a personal insult. Who knows, that approach could change our life.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks...

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

To our Military -

Thank you for protecting us. Sleep well and safe.
May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

**********************************

To those of our Military and Allies who gave their all,
- May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted.
May your/our country always remember.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Hope you’ve had a great weekend so far.

It was cooler here AND we got some more rain. Well, another 1/4” but it’s RAIN!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Yes, it was good weekend but it was a long one. I’m ready for a do-nothing day tomorrow. LOL I’m beat.

More rain? YAY! Is your grass responding to what you’ve gotten this week?
We got a little today too - a half inch. Not nearly enough for the beans since we’ll be dry the next week. But it was better than none at all.

[luvie]

Yes, everything is looking greener and cleaner. It’s almost too late in the season to get much more growth from the grass, but it is still slowly creeping into the bare areas. Slowly.

I’ll bet you’re ready for a down day. Were you really busy? Did you have some cool people to show your great museum to?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Hope your back had a good day at the museum.

Some rain, too? We got about 3/10 since yesterday.

I’ve spent most of the day stretched out in my chair. My knees have been screaming all day. I’m close to having to take ibuprofen to go with the pain patches. *sigh*

[radu]

Glad to hear the grass is growing back a bit. With it being warmer there, there should still be time for decent grass growth. There’s still plenty of time here, though I wish there wasn’t. LOL

I am MORE than ready for a do-nothing day! I’m beat. Worked at the museum, then went straight to an annual fall festival to work at the Republican women’s tent til 9:00 both days. Looooong days but fun ones. We were very busy at the museum today until it stopped raining and pea-soup fog settled in for the rest of the day. Very little traffic because visibility was almost zero. At least it wasn’t raining or foggy at the town where the festival was and there was a good crowd. And fireworks at the end of the night!

[Kathy in Alaska]

HURRAH for you!!

[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.

Yesterday at Comanche Lake:

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

My back is feeling better the past coupe of days, though it’s still a little cranky. It survived the museum better than my tootsies did. LOL They’re burning tonight.

We got a half inch of rain today, which the beans are grateful for.

Ya reckon you’re going to get any sunshine up there any time soon? LOL You need the rain you’ve gotten but some sunshine would be nice too!

Sorry to hear your knees are giving you so much grief. Not exactly easy to do anything when you can’t walk easily. I hope the ibuprofen gives you some relief.

[radu]

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

Gizmo has a mighty happy face. Must have had a grand time at Comanche Lake yesterday.

[luvie]

Indeed, it sounded and felt soooo good. I didn’t even mind that the thunder and lightning woke me up way too early this morning!

[luvie]

It must have been a real trick coming down that mountain in the fog. Ugh! But glad you had a good time there and with your friends at the festival.

Guess I’d better finish this show and head out. I am sure dreading my early wake-up in the morning. Totally not in the mood for it. LOL! See ya tomorrow!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Gizmo looks like he really enjoyed yesterday’s adventures at Comanche Lake.

Have a great Sunday.

[radu]

The fog was just sitting on top of the mountains. Not long after I started down, I was out of it. The cloud bottoms just sat there all day and might still be there now. They were there at sunset.

Get a good night’s sleep. I’m about to hit the pillows too. The long weekend has caught up with me and sleeping late tomorrow sounds REAL good right now. LOL

Sure would be nice if you get a little more rain tomorrow!

[left that other site]

This morning I finished my Torah Readings, almost two weeks ahead of Schedule.

So I am celebrating Rosh Hashana and Simchat Torah on the same day, LOL.

Tomorrow I start with Genesis 1 all over again.

Happy New Year! :-)