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Today the concept of a soldier/saint is lost amidst headlines of "Blackwater", the current atmosphere of "jihad" and the post 9/11
mindset. But somewhere, sitting slightly to the right of the Throne of all mercy & compassion, another solider/saint is smiling. I do not think it is overreaching to invoke the name of St. Francis. In
fact, I believe it is his spirit that guides our good seargent to follow in the footsteps of another courageous priest,
Fr. Damien deVeauster.
You see, it was not enough for Chanel to simply serve her country. She was led to something more; selflessly marching through the gates of Hell to serve the quarantined patients of Molokai's
infamous leper colony at Kalaupapa, Hawaii. After her active
military service ended, that something more
brought her to lay siege at less visible but no less daunting portals of hoplessness. She has invested years of care for AIDS & hospice patients, disturbed and mentally disabled children and even today, strives ceaselessly and without fanfare for the sick & lost as a clinical social worker at
West Coast Housing
as part of their 10 year plan to eliminate homelessness in San Luis Obispo County. Ashamedly, I am not worthy to even tell her story, for when I began it, I was unaware of its origin. I pray you follow her example & be inspired to
something more. -- Sir Edmund Dantes |
