FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ A GREAT MARINE ~ August 6 2006

A GREAT MARINE

Several years ago as the H & S Battalion Chaplain at MCB, Camp Lejeune, I visited the people in the different work spaces, including the rather large main post office.
One day a little conversation took place with young Marine Lance Corporal.
This unplanned encounter has remained with me, and it seems worth passing on...

The Lance Corporal was standing by a very large sack of mail. His job, every day, six days a week for many hours was to sort the mail from that large sack and place the letters into smaller sacks, depending upon their destination. He explained his job, and I asked him if he ever gets bored. "Chaplain," he said," this is all I do. Just sort all these endless piles of letters. Sometimes I can't take it anymore." I was drawn into the young Marine's lament and his life's drama started to sound interesting. He continued, "Then, just as it gets to be overwhelming, I'm holding a letter in my hand and I begin to think: Maybe this letter is going from a Marine wife in Jacksonville all the way to her husband on deployment in the Med. He's really misses her and is homesick on that big ship. Then he gets the letter and suddenly he feels much better. The next letter in my hand, I think: Maybe it's from a little boy to his Daddy in Somalia. He drew a picture with crayons to cheer his Dad and put it in the envelope. Each letter makes me wonder because this one may change a life for the better, or at least bring a smile to a lonely Marine or Sailor."

I was shaken by the majesty this young Lance Corporal displayed and said this to him: "Young man, you possess a wisdom rarely found in people who are triple your years. You have more than wisdom, though, you have character and maturity. Indeed you have found the secret to happiness in life. Whatever you wish to achieve, it will undoubtedly one day be yours...it would be a great honor if you would allow me to shake you hand..."

Whenever we face frustrating moments or disappointments in our work day, let's all remember that young Lance Corporal and follow his heroic and inspiring example!

"Give thy servant, therefore, an understanding heart."

King Solomon's prayer in First Kings

Chaplain Mitch Schranz

Any recent ceremonies?

101 posted on 08/06/2006 12:46:45 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

102 posted on 08/06/2006 12:47:32 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Yeah we did...it's like we got more desks so we could get the computers up and running. We moved our mini mac upstairs since it has the built in wireless.

103 posted on 08/06/2006 12:49:05 PM PDT by sxytxredhead73

To: Kathy in Alaska

*HUG*
Nope!
mr B said it was not the keyboard and he was right..
it had something to do with our computer freaking out if we run Mozilla Firefox and Yahoo IM at the same time..
??
Anywho..it's fixed!
Ms.B

104 posted on 08/06/2006 12:50:49 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)

To: sxytxredhead73

That is great. I don't like sharing a computer...I want my own, when I want it. LOL!!

105 posted on 08/06/2006 12:51:08 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

To: sxytxredhead73; txradioguy

Well howdy you two!
Ms.B

106 posted on 08/06/2006 12:51:34 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)

To: Kathy in Alaska

I understand that!!!!

107 posted on 08/06/2006 12:51:54 PM PDT by sxytxredhead73

Good for mr b.....how are his scraped knees? And how is your well? I hope he finished whatever he had to do and doesn't have to go down again.

108 posted on 08/06/2006 12:52:54 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

To: Kathy in Alaska

nah last week was quiet for once.

109 posted on 08/06/2006 12:56:44 PM PDT by txradioguy (In Memory Of My Friend 1SG Tim Millsap A Co. 70th Eng. K.I.A. 25 April 2005)

110 posted on 08/06/2006 12:57:23 PM PDT by txradioguy (In Memory Of My Friend 1SG Tim Millsap A Co. 70th Eng. K.I.A. 25 April 2005)

To: Kathy in Alaska

He's pretty smart ya know!
His knees are okay, just a bit raw
He's out tinkering with Petey Little Fire
He has band rehersal later
There was a problem in the well with the plumbing..
It's all fixed now..
I don't want him down there again!

111 posted on 08/06/2006 12:59:58 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)

112 posted on 08/06/2006 1:03:29 PM PDT by sxytxredhead73

Thanks, Troops, for your service to our country.

I'll Fly Away

113 posted on 08/06/2006 1:04:06 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

I don't want him down there again!

I hear you, but plumbing problems gotta get fixed. Maybe you just have to be standing guard when he is down there.

114 posted on 08/06/2006 1:08:22 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

To: sxytxredhead73

Are the kids into summer stuff? Swimming? Sports? Is Mom getting some time to relax?

115 posted on 08/06/2006 1:09:33 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

How ya doing young Sir?
*HUG*
Ms.B

116 posted on 08/06/2006 1:11:55 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)

To: sxytxredhead73

hey lady!
how ya been?
*HUG*
Ms.B

117 posted on 08/06/2006 1:12:52 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)

To: Kathy in Alaska

LOL!!! Yeah they are done with summer school... They love to go to the pool....daddy dropped them off at the pool about in hour ago...AND IT'S SO PEACEFUL right now!!

118 posted on 08/06/2006 1:13:11 PM PDT by sxytxredhead73

I've been good. How have you been?

119 posted on 08/06/2006 1:14:17 PM PDT by sxytxredhead73

To: Kathy in Alaska

I WAS standing guard Ma!
LOL
He said "Tell Ma I washed my feet before I went into the well."
Such a good boy!
LOL
Ms.B

120 posted on 08/06/2006 1:14:59 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (women who behave rarely make history)

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794