FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ HIGH FLIGHT ~ 21 January 2024

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

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[The Mayor]

January 20

Calling Out to God

Bible in a Year :

• Genesis 49–50
• Matthew 13:31–58

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

Psalm 25:16 In his book Adopted for Life, Dr. Russell Moore describes his family’s trip to an orphanage to adopt a child. As they entered the nursery, the silence was startling. The babies in the cribs never cried, and it wasn’t because they never needed anything but because they’d learned that no one cared enough to answer.

My heart ached as I read those words. I remember countless nights when our children were small. My wife and I would be sound asleep only to be startled awake by their cries: “Daddy, I’m sick!” or “Mommy, I’m scared!” One of us would spring into action and make our way to their bedroom to do our best to comfort and care for them. Our love for our children gave them reason to call for our help.

An overwhelming number of the psalms are cries, or laments, to God. Israel brought their laments to Him on the basis of His personal relationship with them. These were a people God had called His “firstborn” (Exodus 4:22) and they were asking their Father to act accordingly. Such honest trust is seen in Psalm 25: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, . . . free me from my anguish” (vv. 16–17). Children who are confident of the love of a caregiver do cry. As believers in Jesus—children of God—He’s given us reason to call on Him. He hears and cares because of His great love. .

Reflect & Pray

How comfortable are you taking your cries to God? Why? How might you offer up a lament to Him today?

Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your faithfulness to hear my cry and to act.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ YOU ARE SPECIAL, 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!

Click here for the latest weather, wind and radar.

[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]

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

How is the weather treating you and Tippy?

Stay warm, and don’t forget your spikies.

It’s +2 on my front porch, but the sun has been out. Sunset in about 15 minutes. (4:33p local time)

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[left that other site]

Well, other than me having to use my personal hair dryer to melt the ice that was encasing my car, it’s been rather balmy around her, 16 degrees F.

Not windy though, so that’s good..

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Hope the snow has stopped. STAY WARM!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[Thank You Rush]

Thank you.........

[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]

Extra prayers for Israel...

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.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Pretty day up there today. I imagine the sunshine didn’t do any better warming things up there than it did here. Dang, this cold needs to leave!

[Kathy in Alaska]

YIKES! That doesn’t sound like fun. At least no wind. Stay warm!!

[left that other site]

It’s snowing right now, and VERY cold. Brrrrr.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Thank You Rush, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Glad your internet is still behaving. Stay warm!

[Kathy in Alaska]

It was a pretty day...sunny! But you are right...it don’t do any warming.

Hope your cold goes away soon. We are headed to low single digits by day and minuses at night for the next several days, “they” say.