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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel and Veterans Day ~ 11 November 07
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 11/10/2007 6:14:27 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska


 
 

 

 

NEVER ENOUGH TIME

While I have only been an occasional visitor to Washington, I was struck by one scene so strongly that it remains as somewhat of a reference. My first view "up close and personal" of the Pentagon was neither awe-inspiring nor intimidating. To be sure, I was impressed with the size of the building, but that was about it. What came upon me, and has stayed with me, is the image of an ant farm. An enormous one, surely, but an ant farm nonetheless.


So may passageways with so many ants constantly traveling them. Seeming endless streams of countless ants going and coming through the entrances. Since this view came on a grey, cold March morning, with barren trees and lingering winter, it seemed all the more depressing. I vowed then never to become one of those ants. I would not let myself be lost as one of the faceless, powerless, unknown minions of the "head ant" in the great farm. Not to mention the echo in my mind, that which is often considered a sarcastic oxymoron: "I'm from Washington, and I'm here to help."


Yet something else echoes in my mind. From the Christian Scriptures, the words of the Apostle Paul to the people of Colossae, chapter 4, verse 23: "Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord . . ." For it is then I remember that no matter how small or insignificant my work may seem to me or even to others, I am powerful and effective. My faith reminds me that I am known and loved by my God. More than that, as I do the work, I allow His love to flow through me. And then the work, the worker, and the workplace are transformed into something sacred and beautiful because God is there. No longer dark, dreary, and cold, but bright, cheerful, and warm is the workplace because God's work is being done. No longer nameless, faceless, and powerless, but known, loved, and empowered is the worker doing God's work. The work itself then, too, is transformed into an opportunity to share God's love and joy with others as we struggle to bring peace to His world.


CDR Brian Simpson, CHC, USN

 

 

 

 



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chaplain; freepercanteen; military; troopsupport; veteransday
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To: BIGLOOK
Happy Veterans Day, Hawaii, and thanks for your service to our country.


141 posted on 11/11/2007 4:31:41 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN
Happy Veterans Day, Robert, and thanks for your service to our country.


142 posted on 11/11/2007 4:32:22 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Kathy, he’s by himself. His children live in NC and MO and he’s here by himself. I’ll look after him.


143 posted on 11/11/2007 4:32:27 PM PST by jslade (The only thing you should FEEL when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.)
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To: LUV W; Mr. LUV
Happy Veterans Day, Mr Luv and David, and thanks for your service to our country.


144 posted on 11/11/2007 4:33:14 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: SouthernHawk; LadyHawk; Jade Falcon
Happy Veterans Day, SouthernHawk, LadyHawk, and Jade Falcon, and thanks for your service to our country.


145 posted on 11/11/2007 4:35:40 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Aeronaut
Happy Veterans Day, Aeronaut, and thanks for your service to our country.


146 posted on 11/11/2007 4:41:23 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Northern Yankee
Happy Veterans Day, NY, and thanks for your service to our country.


147 posted on 11/11/2007 4:42:30 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: darkwing104
Happy Veterans Day, darkwing, and thanks for your service to our country.


148 posted on 11/11/2007 4:44:51 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: fatima
Happy Veterans Day, fatima's son and granddaughter, and thanks for your service to our country.


149 posted on 11/11/2007 4:47:44 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: jslade

God bless you good, j. All is well.


150 posted on 11/11/2007 4:48:36 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Vet’s Day BTTT!!...


151 posted on 11/11/2007 4:49:56 PM PST by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
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To: Old Sarge
Happy Veterans Day, Sarge, and thanks for your service to our country.


152 posted on 11/11/2007 5:03:52 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Jet Jaguar
Happy Veterans Day, JJ, and thanks for your service to our country.


153 posted on 11/11/2007 5:05:00 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: mylife
Happy Veterans Day, my, and thanks for your service to our country.


154 posted on 11/11/2007 5:05:41 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: mylife
Happy Veterans Day, my, and thanks for your service to our country.


155 posted on 11/11/2007 5:06:38 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Thank you


156 posted on 11/11/2007 5:06:52 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: El Gran Salseron
Happy Veterans Day, El Gran, and thanks for your service to our country.


157 posted on 11/11/2007 5:07:08 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; GMMAC; Clive; exg; kanawa; conniew; backhoe; -YYZ-; Former Proud Canadian; ...

Ping to post 135.

Thank you Kathy, and everyone at the canteen.

We are so very proud of our troops, and yours, whixh really is the same thing.

Canada ping.
:-)


158 posted on 11/11/2007 5:14:15 PM PST by fanfan ("We don't start fights my friends, but we finish them, and never leave until our work is done."PMSH)
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To: txradioguy

Catching it now on video at C-Span:

http://www.c-span.org/


159 posted on 11/11/2007 5:23:39 PM PST by La Enchiladita
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To: HiJinx; Kathy in Alaska; All

I was the announcer for the ceremony at Arlington today. It was all over C-Span. The missing pieces told me they heard all of my announcements...including the introduction of the Vice President when he stepped into the Amphitheater to make his remarks.


160 posted on 11/11/2007 5:29:24 PM PST by txradioguy (In Memory Of My Friend 1SG Tim Millsap A Co. 70th Engineer Bn. K.I.A. 25 Apr. 2005)
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