Marsha Roberts's Blog: Anything That Suits My Fancy Blog! - Posts Tagged "god"
The Miracle of American Troops - A Veterans' Day Salute
I had the distinct honor and privilege of entertaining American troops, their families and veterans for over 15 years on military bases all over the world with the theatrical production, "Letters From The Front." I lived in billeting along side them and I was "adopted" into their military family. So I can say from experience that we are blessed to the nth degree to have so many wonderful people who are willing to dedicate their lives to preserving our freedoms here in America. And it's not just those who join and train to become a soldier, a sailor, an airman or a marine. It's also the families who wait and pray for their safe return who serve.
Today's blog is dedicated to all who serve and who have served - here and abroad. I know I said that this blog is based on three premises: angels are real, you can live as if everything is a miracle and there is a good reason that "dog" is God spelled backwards. But, stick with me on this story, a true one at that, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
My story takes place in Germany in 1997. We were half way through our American military base tour in Europe that year, traveling on a bus, pulling our gear behind us in a trailer and setting up where ever they had the space to accommodate us. We arrived in Ansbach to find that the only place we could set up was a gym, complete with windows lining the top of the walls, next to the ceiling. Not the ideal place, but that's all they had, so that's what where we set up our show.
By this point we had been touring for several years and we were able to adapt to just about any situation. What we never got accustomed to was how deeply "Letters From The Front" affected our audiences. Every night, from the moment, our leading lady, Della Cole, stepped on stage as the character Katharine Hartgrove, until she and her co-star took their curtain-calls, our military audiences were captivated by the show. After all, it was their story we were telling. Katharine waiting at home for word of her son, Mark, who was fighting in Desert Storm, was something they all could personally relate to. It was even more intense for our overseas audiences who were either just returning from or preparing for deployment. Or they were a family member waiting -- waiting for a loved one to be deployed or to return.
In 1997 two of the world’s hot spots were Kosovo and Bosnia. Both places were rough assignments for our troops. We knew that Ansbach was a jumping off point for deployment to these areas, but that’s about all we knew. The show at the Katterbach Gym started promptly at 7:00 pm on October 29th. The sun was well above the horizon, which meant light was streaming in from the windows at top of the gym. There was nothing we could do about it, so we tried not to pay any attention to it. The creaking of the bleachers was very distracting, but the audience didn’t seem to mind. I could see people leaning forward to hear every word of the show.
In Act III, Katharine discovers that her son is missing in action. It happens suddenly, in the middle of a humorous scene and the audience doesn’t expect it. It’s quite jolting. Then, after a sleepless night, Katharine tries to cope with the knowledge that her son’s life is truly in imminent danger. She does what countless military moms have done throughout history, she drops to her knees and prays for the life of her son.
As the prayer scene began that night we could all hear a distant droning sound. At first we thought Della’s wireless mike was picking up something, which happened occasionally since there is no shortage of RF on military bases. But no, this was real and it got louder quickly.
On stage Katharine lifts her face toward heaven and prays, “I’ve been told that light, the true light, the light that illuminates our hearts and minds comes from you. How I need that light now!”
As if on cue, lights descended from the night sky, flashing through the windows at the top of the gym. On stage Katharine continued praying from the depths of her soul, kneeling as if at an altar, “Won’t you please let my son live? He’s a flower that’s just come into bloom...”
The loud rumbling sound from outside intensified and became a distinctive thump-thump-thump. The lights from above grew brighter and flashed across Katharine’s face as she looked upward, raising her voice in prayer. “He’s a lily of the field. Let him grow. Please God, just let him grow.”
By now, everyone in the gym knew what was happening. Helicopters were landing outside, bringing soldiers back from Kosovo and Bosnia. Loved ones were returning home safely from a war zone. In the play, after Katharine finishes her prayer, her son Mark calls -- he’s safe too -- safe like the real men and women who just arrived outside of our make-shift theatre.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including ours. We didn’t know if life was imitating art or art was imitating life, we all felt so connected, so joyful.
As soon as the show was over we all went running to the back of the gym to watch our soldiers disembark from the helicopters. Noses of loved ones were pressed against windows trying to catch a glimpse of a familiar face. The soldiers would have to be officially checked-in before they could throw their arms around those they loved.
Load-out is never quiet. It was quiet that night. Each of us were lost in our own thoughts about what we had witnessed and been privileged to be a part of. The air we were moving through, the entire place we were working in felt sacred.
We moved on from Ansbach the following day, on to more bases, to perform more shows and have more adventures. There were better, slicker performances of "Letters From The Front" to come and we visited places that were much more spectacular than Ansbach. But, none were more memorable or touched us so deeply than the night Katharine prayed for the life of her son as helicopters landed right outside the theatre, the gym.
Angels come in many forms. Perhaps that night the angels were helicopter pilots. What about miracles? I can tell you, the air was filled with miracles that night. It was palpable.
And there is a good reason that "dog" is God spelled backwards. Because if you can't find a dog in a story, it doesn't matter, because you can always find God in one.
If you've visited my blog before, you know that I have invited each of you to join me in smiling our way back to better times. Today's blog, was by nature, a serious subject. Don't forget to tell the veterans in your life how much you appreciate their service to our country. And, the next time you see someone in uniform, put your hand out and say "Thank you for serving your country. We appreciate you." You won't believe how much it will mean to them. Trust me on this one - that's when you'll get your smile!
Marsha
Marsha Roberts
Author of "Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer"
http://www.mutinousbabyboomer.com/
Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer
Today's blog is dedicated to all who serve and who have served - here and abroad. I know I said that this blog is based on three premises: angels are real, you can live as if everything is a miracle and there is a good reason that "dog" is God spelled backwards. But, stick with me on this story, a true one at that, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
My story takes place in Germany in 1997. We were half way through our American military base tour in Europe that year, traveling on a bus, pulling our gear behind us in a trailer and setting up where ever they had the space to accommodate us. We arrived in Ansbach to find that the only place we could set up was a gym, complete with windows lining the top of the walls, next to the ceiling. Not the ideal place, but that's all they had, so that's what where we set up our show.
By this point we had been touring for several years and we were able to adapt to just about any situation. What we never got accustomed to was how deeply "Letters From The Front" affected our audiences. Every night, from the moment, our leading lady, Della Cole, stepped on stage as the character Katharine Hartgrove, until she and her co-star took their curtain-calls, our military audiences were captivated by the show. After all, it was their story we were telling. Katharine waiting at home for word of her son, Mark, who was fighting in Desert Storm, was something they all could personally relate to. It was even more intense for our overseas audiences who were either just returning from or preparing for deployment. Or they were a family member waiting -- waiting for a loved one to be deployed or to return.
In 1997 two of the world’s hot spots were Kosovo and Bosnia. Both places were rough assignments for our troops. We knew that Ansbach was a jumping off point for deployment to these areas, but that’s about all we knew. The show at the Katterbach Gym started promptly at 7:00 pm on October 29th. The sun was well above the horizon, which meant light was streaming in from the windows at top of the gym. There was nothing we could do about it, so we tried not to pay any attention to it. The creaking of the bleachers was very distracting, but the audience didn’t seem to mind. I could see people leaning forward to hear every word of the show.
In Act III, Katharine discovers that her son is missing in action. It happens suddenly, in the middle of a humorous scene and the audience doesn’t expect it. It’s quite jolting. Then, after a sleepless night, Katharine tries to cope with the knowledge that her son’s life is truly in imminent danger. She does what countless military moms have done throughout history, she drops to her knees and prays for the life of her son.
As the prayer scene began that night we could all hear a distant droning sound. At first we thought Della’s wireless mike was picking up something, which happened occasionally since there is no shortage of RF on military bases. But no, this was real and it got louder quickly.
On stage Katharine lifts her face toward heaven and prays, “I’ve been told that light, the true light, the light that illuminates our hearts and minds comes from you. How I need that light now!”
As if on cue, lights descended from the night sky, flashing through the windows at the top of the gym. On stage Katharine continued praying from the depths of her soul, kneeling as if at an altar, “Won’t you please let my son live? He’s a flower that’s just come into bloom...”
The loud rumbling sound from outside intensified and became a distinctive thump-thump-thump. The lights from above grew brighter and flashed across Katharine’s face as she looked upward, raising her voice in prayer. “He’s a lily of the field. Let him grow. Please God, just let him grow.”
By now, everyone in the gym knew what was happening. Helicopters were landing outside, bringing soldiers back from Kosovo and Bosnia. Loved ones were returning home safely from a war zone. In the play, after Katharine finishes her prayer, her son Mark calls -- he’s safe too -- safe like the real men and women who just arrived outside of our make-shift theatre.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including ours. We didn’t know if life was imitating art or art was imitating life, we all felt so connected, so joyful.
As soon as the show was over we all went running to the back of the gym to watch our soldiers disembark from the helicopters. Noses of loved ones were pressed against windows trying to catch a glimpse of a familiar face. The soldiers would have to be officially checked-in before they could throw their arms around those they loved.
Load-out is never quiet. It was quiet that night. Each of us were lost in our own thoughts about what we had witnessed and been privileged to be a part of. The air we were moving through, the entire place we were working in felt sacred.
We moved on from Ansbach the following day, on to more bases, to perform more shows and have more adventures. There were better, slicker performances of "Letters From The Front" to come and we visited places that were much more spectacular than Ansbach. But, none were more memorable or touched us so deeply than the night Katharine prayed for the life of her son as helicopters landed right outside the theatre, the gym.
Angels come in many forms. Perhaps that night the angels were helicopter pilots. What about miracles? I can tell you, the air was filled with miracles that night. It was palpable.
And there is a good reason that "dog" is God spelled backwards. Because if you can't find a dog in a story, it doesn't matter, because you can always find God in one.
If you've visited my blog before, you know that I have invited each of you to join me in smiling our way back to better times. Today's blog, was by nature, a serious subject. Don't forget to tell the veterans in your life how much you appreciate their service to our country. And, the next time you see someone in uniform, put your hand out and say "Thank you for serving your country. We appreciate you." You won't believe how much it will mean to them. Trust me on this one - that's when you'll get your smile!
Marsha
Marsha Roberts
Author of "Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer"
http://www.mutinousbabyboomer.com/
Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer
The Thanksgiving Dog
Now that the big Thanksgiving push is over and before everyone is totally focused on Christmas, I wanted to share a true story that's full of improbabilities (that I call miracles!), coincidences (that I believe are staged by angels!) and, of course - dogs!
My son Matt and his incredible wife Amber are unquestionably "Dog People." They have two rambunctiously adorable canines named Precious and Depaula and would love to have a third one if they could find the right fit with their eccentric crew. Well, Depaula isn't terribly eccentric, but Precious defines the word!
I'll never forget the first time I met Precious. Matt and Amber had just bought her a few days before and they were bringing their new Boxer puppy over to meet us and our two dogs, Smokey and Shadow. I have to say that had not been a huge fan of Boxers. I tend to like dog faces that are hound-shaped, not squished! (sorry to all of you Boxer and Bulldog fans, but that's what it looks like to me…) But Precious is something else all together and changed my view of Boxers forever. The thing is, she is just so female! In spite of her muscular build and her tongue that's so long she can hardly fit the whole thing in her mouth, she exudes femininity! She even bats her eyelashes and, as Amber imitates her, like she's saying, "But, I'm PRECIOUS! I'm beautiful! You just have to love me!"
However, that first meeting with Smokey was a no-go, nothing doing, you are not winning me over encounter. Maybe it was because Smokey had originally been Matt's dog who eventually became "The Family Dog" and so he stayed put when Matt moved out - so perhaps there was a little jealousy there. Regardless, he was not impressed with Precious and she was devastated.
Smokey is a short-legged, floppy-eared German Shepherd-and-something-else mix and all male. Precious did everything except stand on her head to get Smokey to like her. She flirted and when that didn't work, she humbled herself and batted those big eyes at Smokey. His answer was to plop down on the floor with a disgusted Harrumph! Finally, when it was completely clear she was not going to get an ounce of affection from Smokey, she sat up proudly with her back to him and stuck her bottom lip out and pouted like a five-year-old princess, glancing at Smokey occasionally as if to say, "How can you do this to me? I'm Precious!" It was hysterical to see this puppy with her bottom lip out, pouting!
And that just begins to describe how eccentric Precious is. You'd swear she sees ghosts, she'll go after a flash of light on a wall as if it were a critter that must be destroyed and no matter who is in the room, she is the most dominating personality and always the most energetic! Depaula is her partner-in-crime. Being a Pit mix, he's a little larger than Precious, but he's a gentle soul who seems to have been born to keep her company and calm her excited spirit down a bit. They are big buds.
Understanding the nature of Precious and Depaula is important if you're going to be able to visualize the events surrounding The Thanksgiving Dog.
It all started at about 4:00 am the Tuesday morning before Thanksgiving. Matt is a musician and a writer, so he's always kept odd hours. He had just gotten up and was going to let the dogs out. They live in a quaint townhouse with a front stoop and small fenced-in yard. The gate is always closed.
When he opened the front door there was a surprise waiting for him on the stoop: a large, unfamiliar dog laying there, shivering from the cold. He had the body shape of a Pit Bull and the coloring of a Dalmatian - one of his black spots went around his left eye, giving him a distinctive look. No way Matt was going to leave a dog out in the cold, so he brought him into the warmth and got him food and water. The Dynamic Duo of Precious and Depaula seemed to recognize the plight of a fellow pooch and didn't argue the point.
It wasn't long before Amber was up and they decided to take him over to the vet so the Stoop Dog could get scanned for a microchip to try and find his family. He didn't have on a collar, but was clean and groomed and appeared to be so very well cared for that they thought he would probably be chipped. He wasn't. So they took him in.
The three dogs dominated the living room as they worked at getting to know each other that day, but Matt got a kick out of it and thought they might be able to keep the Stoop Dog if they couldn't find his family. Later, when he let the three-some out into the front yard to do their business, the new dog suddenly got excited about something and jumped the fence. This isn't an easy thing to do because of the height, but he was strong and made it appear effortless. Matt figured he just wanted to try and find his home, so he let him go.
Ten minutes later, the big guy was back on their stoop again! At that point it was clear they had been "chosen" by this dog for some reason and decided it was the right thing to put up fliers and try and find his family.
During the day, Matt wrote us about what was going on, telling us what a "sweet guy" the Stoop Dog was and that the three of them got along pretty well, considering his sudden arrival! But, after awhile, Matt said the new dog seemed to get sad, laying his head down on Matt's leg, looking up at him like he was waiting for something. I'll let Matt (from his email) tell the story from here:
"So Amber came home a bit early from work and we decided to take him to the local shelter, even though we really didn't want to leave him there. We just figured he'd have the best chance of finding his family at the local shelter. I mean, that's where I would first go if we lost one of ours. Anyway, we get in the shelter (a really nice one, in our county) and tell them we found this dog, and the woman goes "Well look who it is. You two just made someone's day. His owner was in here this morning crying her eyes out because she'd been looking for him all night." Sure enough, she pulled out the pictures that the woman had left and it was the very same dog. They put us in contact with her, and when Amber called and told her we found her dog and kept him safe all day, she about lost her mind crying and thanking us. She left work right then and came to our house to get him. They were so happy to see each other. The dog (his name turned out to be Rico) just started wiggling and dog-dancing as soon as he saw her. She thanked us profusely…"
Now Matt and Amber would no doubt tell the story differently, they experienced it themselves. But, witnessing this wonderful story unfold from a distance, it seemed very magical to me. As Matt told me, Rico specifically came to their house three different times, once when he found him on the stoop and twice when he saw something and jumped the fence. But he came back each time, as Matt said, "like he knew he had to be here for a reason or something."
Matt isn't one who believes in miracles and angels like his mom, but since I've decided to "live as if everything is a miracle," this is my interpretation of the events. Rico's instinct obviously told him to go to that house, sit on that stoop and that's where he would find help. What is instinct? In my world it is either an angel whispering in your ear or miraculous forces making your next step abundantly clear. Either way, a miracle.
You could say that Matt and Amber taking Rico to that particular shelter was logical. Which is true. And you could say that Rico's owner was doing the logical thing by bringing photos of the dog to that particular shelter to see if anyone had found him. And, that would also be true. But, when you add up the number of "coincidences" and place them side-by-side with all of the coinciding instincts to do the "logical" thing and mix them with the deep desire that everyone involved had to do the right thing, the loving thing - I think all of that energy is very powerful. I believe that kind of positive, full-of-love energy (from the people and the dogs!) brings into play an even more powerful force. I call it God, you may call it The Universe, but for me, it all results in a miracle.
Because that's what a miracle is to me - love in action - in big ways and in small, everyday things. It's all around us, all the time.
That's it for The Thanksgiving Dog. Everyone was reunited just in time for Thanksgiving. And Precious and Depaula didn't have to share their mom and dad for Thanksgiving, which I'm sure made The Boxer Princess happy as a clam.
And here's to my son and his wife - Matt and Amber - fantastic, loving people doing the right thing at the right time. Miraculous!
Marsha
Marsha Roberts
Author of "Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer"
http://www.mutinousbabyboomer.com/
Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer
My son Matt and his incredible wife Amber are unquestionably "Dog People." They have two rambunctiously adorable canines named Precious and Depaula and would love to have a third one if they could find the right fit with their eccentric crew. Well, Depaula isn't terribly eccentric, but Precious defines the word!
I'll never forget the first time I met Precious. Matt and Amber had just bought her a few days before and they were bringing their new Boxer puppy over to meet us and our two dogs, Smokey and Shadow. I have to say that had not been a huge fan of Boxers. I tend to like dog faces that are hound-shaped, not squished! (sorry to all of you Boxer and Bulldog fans, but that's what it looks like to me…) But Precious is something else all together and changed my view of Boxers forever. The thing is, she is just so female! In spite of her muscular build and her tongue that's so long she can hardly fit the whole thing in her mouth, she exudes femininity! She even bats her eyelashes and, as Amber imitates her, like she's saying, "But, I'm PRECIOUS! I'm beautiful! You just have to love me!"
However, that first meeting with Smokey was a no-go, nothing doing, you are not winning me over encounter. Maybe it was because Smokey had originally been Matt's dog who eventually became "The Family Dog" and so he stayed put when Matt moved out - so perhaps there was a little jealousy there. Regardless, he was not impressed with Precious and she was devastated.
Smokey is a short-legged, floppy-eared German Shepherd-and-something-else mix and all male. Precious did everything except stand on her head to get Smokey to like her. She flirted and when that didn't work, she humbled herself and batted those big eyes at Smokey. His answer was to plop down on the floor with a disgusted Harrumph! Finally, when it was completely clear she was not going to get an ounce of affection from Smokey, she sat up proudly with her back to him and stuck her bottom lip out and pouted like a five-year-old princess, glancing at Smokey occasionally as if to say, "How can you do this to me? I'm Precious!" It was hysterical to see this puppy with her bottom lip out, pouting!
And that just begins to describe how eccentric Precious is. You'd swear she sees ghosts, she'll go after a flash of light on a wall as if it were a critter that must be destroyed and no matter who is in the room, she is the most dominating personality and always the most energetic! Depaula is her partner-in-crime. Being a Pit mix, he's a little larger than Precious, but he's a gentle soul who seems to have been born to keep her company and calm her excited spirit down a bit. They are big buds.
Understanding the nature of Precious and Depaula is important if you're going to be able to visualize the events surrounding The Thanksgiving Dog.
It all started at about 4:00 am the Tuesday morning before Thanksgiving. Matt is a musician and a writer, so he's always kept odd hours. He had just gotten up and was going to let the dogs out. They live in a quaint townhouse with a front stoop and small fenced-in yard. The gate is always closed.
When he opened the front door there was a surprise waiting for him on the stoop: a large, unfamiliar dog laying there, shivering from the cold. He had the body shape of a Pit Bull and the coloring of a Dalmatian - one of his black spots went around his left eye, giving him a distinctive look. No way Matt was going to leave a dog out in the cold, so he brought him into the warmth and got him food and water. The Dynamic Duo of Precious and Depaula seemed to recognize the plight of a fellow pooch and didn't argue the point.
It wasn't long before Amber was up and they decided to take him over to the vet so the Stoop Dog could get scanned for a microchip to try and find his family. He didn't have on a collar, but was clean and groomed and appeared to be so very well cared for that they thought he would probably be chipped. He wasn't. So they took him in.
The three dogs dominated the living room as they worked at getting to know each other that day, but Matt got a kick out of it and thought they might be able to keep the Stoop Dog if they couldn't find his family. Later, when he let the three-some out into the front yard to do their business, the new dog suddenly got excited about something and jumped the fence. This isn't an easy thing to do because of the height, but he was strong and made it appear effortless. Matt figured he just wanted to try and find his home, so he let him go.
Ten minutes later, the big guy was back on their stoop again! At that point it was clear they had been "chosen" by this dog for some reason and decided it was the right thing to put up fliers and try and find his family.
During the day, Matt wrote us about what was going on, telling us what a "sweet guy" the Stoop Dog was and that the three of them got along pretty well, considering his sudden arrival! But, after awhile, Matt said the new dog seemed to get sad, laying his head down on Matt's leg, looking up at him like he was waiting for something. I'll let Matt (from his email) tell the story from here:
"So Amber came home a bit early from work and we decided to take him to the local shelter, even though we really didn't want to leave him there. We just figured he'd have the best chance of finding his family at the local shelter. I mean, that's where I would first go if we lost one of ours. Anyway, we get in the shelter (a really nice one, in our county) and tell them we found this dog, and the woman goes "Well look who it is. You two just made someone's day. His owner was in here this morning crying her eyes out because she'd been looking for him all night." Sure enough, she pulled out the pictures that the woman had left and it was the very same dog. They put us in contact with her, and when Amber called and told her we found her dog and kept him safe all day, she about lost her mind crying and thanking us. She left work right then and came to our house to get him. They were so happy to see each other. The dog (his name turned out to be Rico) just started wiggling and dog-dancing as soon as he saw her. She thanked us profusely…"
Now Matt and Amber would no doubt tell the story differently, they experienced it themselves. But, witnessing this wonderful story unfold from a distance, it seemed very magical to me. As Matt told me, Rico specifically came to their house three different times, once when he found him on the stoop and twice when he saw something and jumped the fence. But he came back each time, as Matt said, "like he knew he had to be here for a reason or something."
Matt isn't one who believes in miracles and angels like his mom, but since I've decided to "live as if everything is a miracle," this is my interpretation of the events. Rico's instinct obviously told him to go to that house, sit on that stoop and that's where he would find help. What is instinct? In my world it is either an angel whispering in your ear or miraculous forces making your next step abundantly clear. Either way, a miracle.
You could say that Matt and Amber taking Rico to that particular shelter was logical. Which is true. And you could say that Rico's owner was doing the logical thing by bringing photos of the dog to that particular shelter to see if anyone had found him. And, that would also be true. But, when you add up the number of "coincidences" and place them side-by-side with all of the coinciding instincts to do the "logical" thing and mix them with the deep desire that everyone involved had to do the right thing, the loving thing - I think all of that energy is very powerful. I believe that kind of positive, full-of-love energy (from the people and the dogs!) brings into play an even more powerful force. I call it God, you may call it The Universe, but for me, it all results in a miracle.
Because that's what a miracle is to me - love in action - in big ways and in small, everyday things. It's all around us, all the time.
That's it for The Thanksgiving Dog. Everyone was reunited just in time for Thanksgiving. And Precious and Depaula didn't have to share their mom and dad for Thanksgiving, which I'm sure made The Boxer Princess happy as a clam.
And here's to my son and his wife - Matt and Amber - fantastic, loving people doing the right thing at the right time. Miraculous!
Marsha
Marsha Roberts
Author of "Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer"
http://www.mutinousbabyboomer.com/
Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer
