What's It To a Vet

What Is It To a Vet?

 

She approached the old Vet to thank him.

 As she got near, she had recognized him as a veteran because of all thebright colored patches and shiny metal trinkets on his vest.  Like a lot of them,he was bound to show some pride.

 “Thank you for your service, sir,” she said.

 The old Army Veteran lowered his eyes and said, “It was my honor and pleasure m’am.”

 And you know, as he thought back, he could honestly say he was telling the truth.  And he began to think of what it all was to him and all the other United States Military Veterans.  He wanted to share it with her. 

 You see, it wasn’t about the service; it wasn’t about the deployment; it wasn’t about the rank he had attained before he left.  It wasn’t about the exotic and scary places he had been and things he had seen, and it certainly wasn’t about the money or benefits.  Yes, he was proud of the branch of service he had gone with because of a lot of reasons.  Family tradition, the uniform it sported, the glory it painted in history and the heroic men who represented it formed most of the reasons he had joined.  He had brothers in his family who served in the Marines, the Air Force, the Navy.  He had been raised to think joining the military service was but a part of growing up, a part of doing duty to ones’ country.  He always believed the Army Dress Blue Uniform was the most beautiful of them all and he daydreamed as a kid of getting married wearing one or being a part of the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.  He still daydreamed of how the seventh calvary had helped to “tame” the Old West and how George Armstrong Custard fought bravely ‘til the very last and his favorite, George Washington crossing the Delaware during the winter at Valley Forge.  He was a patriot.

 But, along with this came the melancholy thoughts. He also knew and had a lot of friends who had not volunteered to a calling.  Who had just gone and did their jobs and then went back home…….or not.  Guys who didn’t ask to go but who would have and did do anything that was asked of them.  Guys who didn’t bother to pursue a specific jobor desire of accomplishment.  Some of us were drafted and some of us had no choice but to join and take our licks where they landed.  To do our jobs and hope and pray we did them good and wouldn’t get ourselves killed in the process.  To grow up faster than the Good Lord would have it be.  To leave loved ones behind.  Thank the Lord that she would never have to see the look in her Dad’s eyes while getting in line to leave for the war and thank the Lord she would never have to worry every single day that her son or daughter was not in danger.  Thank the Lord for being born in the U.S.A………

 His final thought came abruptly as he saw her ready to go her way.  This is what it is all about and what covers every single base. He shouted, “Thank a Vet for your freedom.” 

Independence

 Today is the 4th of July……Independence Day in the U.S.  Now that Social Media seems to have taken reign, I find it ironic that we Americans still say we are “independent”.  Lol.  That’s another story for another day I guess.  But, we need to step back in time and take a real serious look at what got us this country of United States.  King George of England wrote a letter from which I offer the following quote: 

“The situation of the Kingdom is novel, the policy that is to govern it must be novel likewise, or neither adapted to the real evils of the present moment, or the dreaded ones of the future.

For a Century past the Colonial Scheme has been the system that has guided the Administration of the British Government. It was thoroughly known that from every Country there always exists an active emigration of unsettled, discontented, or unfortunate People, who failing in their endeavours to live at home, hope to succeed better where there is more employment suitable to their poverty. The establishment of Colonies in America might probably increase the number of this class, but did not create it; in times anterior to that great speculation, Poland contained near 10,000 Scotch Pedlars; within the last thirty years not above 100, occasioned by America offering a more advantageous asylum for them.”

The letter goes on a good bit about the fortunes of Great Britain.  Our history is not without its doubts nor is it without its sins of selfishness, pride, arrogance, and continued revolutions.  But, one thing our history is, is authenticity, sacrifice, unity, and a whole lot of faith.  What our forefathers overcame is not without these things.  Happy 4th of July, America. The beautiful.

Bad Marshmallows

 During my fight with chemo and lung surgery, I came to refer to cancer tumors as “bad marshmallows”.  It was a term I borrowed from another cancer patient and I use it in place of the word “tumor”.  

All too often, people hear the word cancer and immediately associate it with death.  Our society is built like that I guess.  The same thing occurred with the word “covid”.  I now coin the term “bad breath” to be used in place of covid.  Like cancer, especially now, covid does not mean instant death.  Indeed, it simply means one has the virus infection that comes from it......bad breathing.

It took almost a full year of being cautious for my wife and I to get our vaccinations.  We got the Moderna shots.  Throughout the entire pandemic pandemonium, we seemed to be just sitting there awaiting our time to contract the dreadful covid death sentence.  By the grace of the Good Lord, however, we never came down with it.  Oh yeah, we had family members get it, but none died.  A close friend did die from it though. And then numbers spiked in spite of vaccines and people panicked all over again....and we sat and continued to await our turn.  

Well, the thought occurred to me that it’s not death until death occurs.  Until then, it’s bad breath.  My wife got out and began volunteering to give the shots at a local, large vaccination center.  She is a retired Clinical Nurse Specialist.  She faced it head on like so many other responders.  I asked her one evening, “Hon, what’s the best remedy for bad breath?”  She answered, “Brush your teeth, use mouthwash.  If that doesn’t work, you may have tonsil stones.”  Don’t wait on your turn for bad breath.  Get the shots.

Angels

"You folks is angels. You is just angels is all I can say."  Large crocodile tears fell from the corners of her sad black eyes as she told me this blessed thing in the cold morning air.

  I Serve Ministries delivers 25 thousand pounds of free food once a month to the Commerce Georgia area. Occasionally me and some of my fellow church members volunteer to help with boxing and distributing it to several hundred people.  Rain or shine they begin lining up around four AM to await their turn to receive, each according to his or her family need. They are hungrier than they should be. This day was no exception except it was bone chilling cold outside. It had to have been in the mid twenties when they started lining up. 

On that day, I was a cart pusher. Cart pushers take the food in a grocery cart to the recipients cars. If we get the nod, we pray with them, encourage them, or, just generally show them the love of Jesus. What did he say?  Something like, "whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me......."  I never thought of myself as an angel though.  I told that elderly black lady when she began to cry, that she was an angel also. Because she showed me the love of Christ. He makes it happen that way!

The Waffle House Whisper

Something beautiful happened in Waffle House this morning when I stopped there to have some breakfast. 

The customer finished his meal and approached the cashier to pay up. His conversation with Ashley, the young waitress was as follows:

Having read her name tag, he said, "Ashley, I am about to do something I have never done in my life before and am wondering if you will help me out."  She replied, "Sure, what can I do?"  The man whispered to her so nobody could hear.  He said, "I'd like you to quietly collect everyone's check and bring it here to the register.  I am going to pay for their breakfasts."  Although she gave him a very surprised and strange look, she did not say a word.  She did as the customer asked. The customer pulled out his credit card and paid the bill along with his own for seven tables.  I think the total amount was around 61.00.  As he left, I noticed all the workers in the restaurant were smiling.  He said, "Have a great day, yall.  And, be sure to say your prayers."  I can't remember which one responded but one of the waitresses said, "I always do!"

Having been a part of this experience overwhelmed me.  I had tears in my eyes as I got into my truck to leave.  Last evening at our weekly small group meeting we discussed those times in our lives when God whispers to us in that small, quiet voice that only He can use.  We discussed how it is up to us to discern whether it is God whispering to us or whether we were going crazy or whether we just make these promptings up in our minds.  Bill Hybels, the author of our study, provides us five ways to filter what we may think are whispers from God.  Basically, it's to ask some very simple questions.  1. Pray, "Is this really from you, God?"  2. Can it be scripturally verified?  3. What would the wise people I know of think about my response to the whisper?  4. Would responding to the whisper be out of character for me?  5. Would the people in my life that I trust the most sign off on my actions?

Something told me as I drove off that I had been part of one of those small, quiet whispers this morning.  I ran the experience through the filters I learned about last night and the customer's response to the whisper he had received passed them all in my heart.  I remembered the story of Solomon and how God had whispered to him in the night.  When I got home, I re-read the poem Bill Hybels has used all his life.  It was given to him by his teacher when he was a child:

Oh! give me Samuel's ear,

An open ear, O Lord,

Alive and quick to hear

Each whisper of Thy Word;

Like him to answer to Thy call

And to obey Thee first of all.

 

 

Blessings to you all.  <><

Dog Park or Kingdom of Heaven On Earth Around Us

The author of "The Divine Conspiracy", Dallas Willard, calls it the "Kingdom of Heaven On Earth Around Us".  

I take Josie to The Rabbit Hill Dog Park.  It's a wonderful experience each time I go with her. Those of you who have been to a dark park will understand what I'm talking about.  A magical thing occurs the minute we enter the gated area for dogs.  She takes on an air of total, complete freedom and I can see a burden immediately lifted from her shoulders.  You see, at dog parks, it is "neutral" ground for dogs.  They all know it.  They don't have to be burdened withe "alpha/subordinate" thing normally instinctive with dogs.  All of them, and I do mean ALL of them display this extraordinary transformation when they enter the dog park kingdom.  There are always a mixture of dog breeds, some big and some small; some fuzzy and some short-haired; some log legged, and some short legged; some old, some young;  it's a total mish-mash of diversity and ALL are equal.  Their joy is un-surpassed as they frolic and do things at the park you'd never see them do anywhere else!  The most significant of all being that they don't fight, they don't growl and they don't covet.....they share and play with the same toys and they all get along amazingly!

I guess the most amazing thing of all is that all the people I meet who have brought these dogs to the "kingdom" display the same trait!  At Rabbit Hill Dog Park, I have never met a stranger.  We all share common ground and we share our love of the dogs and we share smiles and stories about them telling stories of joy and pride.  Occasionally, our stories flow into our own personal lives...you know, things that are bothering us and things we need and things about God and our need for Him.  

Rabbit Hill is an escape from the "world" and a time for walking in The Kingdom of God on Earth Around Us.  It is a prime example of the Kingdom that Jesus tells us about.  There is no boredom, no tears, no pain, no worldly bothers there.  I feel it the minute I enter the gated area.  I notice it the minute I release Josie from her leash.  Matthew 13, verse 44 tells us Jesus said, "The Kingdom of Heaven  is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and his again.  And from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."  Go and read Revelation 21, verses 3 and 4!  Then, after you read it, visit your nearest dog park and witness the Kingdom!  Blessings to you all.

Bullwinkle

My wife and I have a frequent visitor to our yard.  Bullwinkle is a yearling buck that insists on browsing on my daylillies.  Although I am reluctant to call him a "pest", it is rather nerve racking whenever he shows up because our dog, Josie, goes nuts whenever he wanders into the yard.  She can't tolerate any intruders.  She refuses to allow any other animals into her "space" because she owns it and covets it to the point where she loses it in barking and huffing and puffing when Bullwinkle visits.

The Bible tells us that Jesus was at times overwhelmed with crowds gathering into His space.  Ironically, He usually welcomed this.  His disciples often tried to protect Him from people crowding in on Him.  One story tells us about a crowd one day and a woman, so desperate to touch the hem of His robe just to be healed.  (Please read Mark 5:24-35)  

We as Christians so often are reluctant to allow people into our "space".  The only problem is that if we don't, we can't, like Jesus, heal anyone or comfort them.  How much do you covet your space?  Do you pick and choose who "gets in"?  

Josie is the most beautiful little dog I have ever owned and she is so sweet.  But, like the rest of us, she has a space problem!  Let others in.....let them touch the hem of your garment and be healed today.

"Bullwinkle"