FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ TRANSITIONS ~ 23 September 2018

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

TRANSITIONS

It's a "red letter" day at our household today...(and maybe a time for some "red eyes" as well). It is a time of real adjustment...so much so that my daughter asked to stay home from school. And my wife has been dreading the inevitable battle with emotions...one which she will probably lose. There were phone calls from family and friends, and parties over the weekend. Old scrapbooks were dusted off and passed around. Memories of other times and events were recalled and relived. There was some good-natured "ribbing" and some nervous laughter, all leaning inexorably toward the change that today would most certainly bring. And no matter how the scenario plays itself out, things will never be the same for our family again. It's a time for closing one chapter of life and beginning another. Today, you see, is the day my son leaves for "boot camp"! It's one of those times we call a "transition".

Transitions come in all shapes and sizes, but they all require us to change. And that's usually painful. Sooner or later, however, everything changes. We move from one place to another…or from one job to another...or even from one relationship to another. Sometimes we think that staying in one place will give us the stability we crave. And sometimes it does, but only for a while, because that's the way life is. Time moves on. And even if our geography stays the same, each of us will still face life's inevitable "passages"...from one age to another, from one responsibility to another, from one stage of life to another...each requiring a new way of relating, a new set of skills, and a new perspective.

There is a spiritual issue in dealing with such change, according to author and professor Bill Ratliff. It's hearing and responding to the will of God. "The scriptures and the lives of religious persons throughout history, have given witness to God's calling persons into new places", he says. "As God called Abraham, God calls us, 'Leave your country, your kindred, and your father's house for a country which I will show you' (Genesis 12:1)". It's a familiar quest, but the pilgrimage must be individually discerned and is always unique for each of us.

Ratliff also reminds us that to refuse this pilgrimage, to refuse to "enter the wilderness", to "play it safe" rather than following God out into the unknown, is (to some extent) to choose death, to abandon our "growing edge", to give up the destiny of who we are called to become. Better then we should go THROUGH the valley of the shadow, even when it is uncharted and scary. Because more often than not, the loneliness of the wilderness is where God has chosen to speak most clearly, where things are out of our control, where we have no choice but to depend on God's grace.

In one sense this transition is an easy one for my family. It's part of the process of growing up. Something every family expects to face. And we have every reason to expect positive results as this "fledgling" learns to fly (quite literally since he has committed to the Army Airborne). Still, it is comforting to know that whether we "take the wings of the morning" ... or "dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there (God's) hand shall lead" us and His and is acquainted with all our ways. The Psalmist was right: "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it." His responses are equally valid. First, to praise God and second to pray: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in thy way everlasting".

Can any of us afford to do any less?

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[lightman]

Very blessed....Florence only dropped 0.15 so the streams are FINALLY beginning to go back to more normal volumes.

Some of the leaves are turning much earlier than normal. A hickory that usually starts to color up around October 1 has started to get yellow tinges and the spicebushes which generally don’t yellow until around Columbus Day are starting to turn.

Saw a “wooly bear” that was brown all over...might mean a mild winter.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Fun visit, but glad to be home?

Thank you for the hymns.

[luvie]

I have mixed feelings. I was glad to see the kitties and to sleep in my comfortable bed, but geez! I miss the kids so much! The visit was just way too short. We just don’t like to disrupt their lives for extended periods of time. Especially with the girls in school.

Thank you for a beautiful thread, Kathy! (((hugs))) I hope you had a restful non-homework day today!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Well, hopefully you are done with the rain and your winter will be mild.

[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]

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

Did the rain stay away for the whole afternoon?

We got a half inch overnight. Didn’t have to water. d:o)

[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.

How's it going this morning?

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

The rain was nicer to us today and did wait until the festival was over, unlike yesterday when it gave us a soggy start. We finally got just shy of .3 an inch at the farm around 11 tonight. More to come the next couple of days as the front slowly creeps through.

You got a nice rainfall overnight. One less thing to worry about this weekend ... no lawn watering.

[radu]

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

How’s your weekend gone so far? Did the rain keep you and Gizmo home from the lake?

[E.G.C.]

We actually got to spend a few minutes out at Comanche Lake yesterday. Gizmo decided though he wanted to try out for track and field and ran me out and we ended up going back to the house. We had a great time though.

[radu]

Glad you two got to get out for a while. I was afraid the weather would put a damper on that this weekend.

You’ve got your hands full with Gizmo, don’t you? But hey, he keeps you in shape trying to keep up with him. LOL

[E.G.C.]

((LOL))Yes he sure does. Only problem is at my age I can't run as fast as he can. 🤣 He is really something. 🙂

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Military Families, for your service to our country.

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...sounds like you and Gizmo had fun running track and field.

Enjoy your time today.

And a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[radu]

I don’t think anyone at ANY age can keep up with a young pooch when they get wound up. LOL
Sounds like he’s enjoying the cooler weather that rolled in behind the front.

[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.

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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.

[E.G.C.]

Yep, I think he’s enjoying it.

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Lord's Prayer

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and your family.

The 23rd Psalm