Reintegration Tip #1

There was this guy who had spent his whole life in the desert. He decides to visit a friend. On his way he is walking on the railroad tracks.  He'd never seen a train before or the tracks they run on.  He hears this whistle, but has no idea what it is. So he just stands there. And sure enough the train hits him. Luckily, it was only a glancing blow. The guy was throw,head over heals to the side of the tracks.

After about a week in the hospital recovering, he's at his friend's house one evening. While in the kitchen, he suddenly hears the teakettle whistling. He grabs a baseball bat from the nearby closet and proceeds to batter and bash the teakettle into an unrecognizable lump of metal. His friend rushes into the kitchen, sees what's happened and asks the man: "Why'd you ruin my good tea kettle?"  The guy who had grown up in the desert replied: "Man, you gotta kill these things while they're still small. Their nasty when they get big."

In this simple joke there is a good lesson as we prepare to go home.  The lesson: take care of issues when they are small, because they are nasty when they get big.  It is not a bad lesson for those heading back to civilian life after being gone for two years, or for those who are about to receive them.  Jesus said, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…"  I believe this is true.  If you are faithful in taking care of the little things you will be blessed with much.  Much hope in the future.  Much peace!  Much! 

Comments

[Rosemary]

Very good insight. Thank you. May God always keep you safe and bless you with MUCH.

[Eric]

"Man, you gotta kill these things while they're still small. Their nasty when they get big." I wish I could go back in time and tell a few parishioners this. Maybe things would be a bit more peaceful between people now. Deal with what is bugging you now. Don't wait.

Thanks for the thought. Take care.
Eric

[Kat in GA: A Soldiers' Angel]

Don't think that just because y'all are home, the prayers on y'all's behalf will stop! We'll keep on praying in the months and years to come... it's the beginning of a new journey... and we will have you covered in prayer every step of the way.

[Judy Schletty]

Dear Pastor,
Thanks for the email note and words of encouragement. A few years ago we sang a song in church and the title was, "Be Still Jerusalem" or something like that. While it's always good if you can find the right words, sometimes words are not necessary as we admire from afar (I was at a loss for words when I saw some of our soldiers at the airport recently). Glad you will be enroute home soon. Hug your families for us, too. They are also heroes.
Peace, love and prayers,
Judy and Randy