FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ~ 24 August 2014

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

 

[ConorMacNessa]

Good Evening, Kathy!

***HUGS***



A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours! Thank you very much for tonight’s Sunday Chapel thread.

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Excellence]

Happy Sunday!

[PROCON]

Hiya Ma and thqnks for tonight’s Canteen! And a Happy Lord’s Day to you! Yup, once I get moved, Zach and I will see a lot of college football, (and also Seahawk football) but probably from a TV screen, it’s cheaper :-) Hope your weekend is great!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac, and thank you.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to the MacNessa family as well.

Did you get your planting done? Any harvesting?

[PROCON]

Yo Navy Bro, college football is almost upon us.

Go Army!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ MAKING ASSUMPTIONS, 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!

[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

[mountainlion]

If we listen too much to the bad news all around us we can get the attitude that things are not good. Things can go form bad to worse in a downward cycle.

Our maker has better plans for us than that. Keep looking up.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Proud Marine Mom, and a Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours.

Thank you, Douglas, for your service to America.

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks very much, Kathy! Did not get any planting done today - raining here. I did, with John-Man's help, replace a light fixture in the Kitchen. Otherwise, a fairly uneventful day.



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Excellence - a Blessed Lord's day to you!


"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

A Blessed Lord's Day and Shavua Tov to you.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Army Bro!

A Blessed Lord's Day to you!

As to your beloved Black Knights, we shall see in the fulness of time.




"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

I’ve had it with the NFL...my goal is not to watch any games this year. I can’t believe how PC they’ve become. So many pantywaists (I can’t spell woos) and prima donnas and whiners.

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

Watching from the TV screen is so much cheaper and safer and less noisy. And you get reruns and can stay warm. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[SandRat]

Mrs SR & I have been married, as of the 23rd of August, for 45 years.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

((((HUGS))))

I watched an old kirk Douglas movie today. It was the Ponti/DeLaurentis production of “Ulysses” made in the 50’s (I think).

Very funky, old, and corny, but a fun romp through the Iliad! :-)

[SandRat]