Quotes from Christopher Hoctor
Christopher Hoctor: Blessing
That Every Day
Bless, oh Lord, the gift of food
The plentiful harvest, the vine’s gift too
Make us ever mindful of these gifts
That every day we praise you
Bless, oh Lord, the gift of friends
Sharing a laugh, a shoulder, a listening ear
Make us ever mindful of these gifts
For friends are precious and dear
Bless, oh Lord, the gift of family
A sacred kinship we rejoice
Make us ever mindful of this gift
That we praise you with a joyful voice
Bless, oh Lord, the gift of freedom
For our rights and liberty
Make us ever mindful of our warriors
The sacrifices they made for me
Bless, oh Lord, the gift of life
The gift of love for each other
Make us ever mindful that your presence
Is in every hour we share together
Bless, oh Lord, the gift of your Son
Through Him did our life renew
Make us ever mindful of this gift
That every day we praise you
Make us ever mindful of all your gifts
That every day… we praise you!
Amen
(written for and inspired by the warm hospitality of new friends, on Thanksgiving, 2010)
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Christopher Hoctor: Blessing
Such nobility is borne by those who go out there every day, don their fuzzy boots, bending the wrenches or slipping the surly bonds in a pursuit to serve, not for glory. The -135 force is a bastion of such noble warriors; the unsung heroes of the Cold War, and on-going quiet heroes of the wars on tyranny, drugs, suffering, and terror. I salute you.
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
Sunday, Sunday we cannot ignore
That Monday is beating upon thy door
If God had mercy upon the score
He would make Monday be no more
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
I curse thee Monday, but yield unto thee; have mercy and be gentle, for no Sunday ever prepares us for thy bitter sting.
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
The Lord created the mighty waters, and lo, man crafted boats that he may venture forth and survive the arduous journey across the sea. The Lord was not finished; He breathed upon his creation and created Monday, and lo, man crafted coffee that he may survive the onslaught of perky bastards.
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
In any lifetime our language endures change, some good, and some bad; but in our lifetime, is suffering an apocalyptic decay. Like, totally!
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
Gen. Eisenhower once joked: “Things have never been more like the way they are today in history.” I say, “If things today are not the way we anticipated, what good are the plans we made yesterday?”
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
The Harley mantra, “Live to ride, ride to live”, I find is a cheap adolescent colloquialism, but terribly accurate
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
Sunday is like that friend, the one you really like but is always hanging around that homely outcast. For Sunday, we know, introduces you to her friend; Monday.
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
Welcome ye unto New Jersey. Left shalt thou not turn, but turneth right and behold, left will open its gates to thee.
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Christopher Hoctor: Humor
If some people didn't have a supremely dull wit, they would have nothing to claim which elevated them to such heights.
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Christopher Hoctor: Proverb
A good team is like a chain, but a chain is only strong as its weakest link. The best team is like a rope, where even the weakest fiber is doing its part to pull the others along.
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Christopher Hoctor: Proverb
We should dream for our children. Success will never exceed potential, and I really believe a child’s potential is dependent on the amount of faith we have in them.
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Christopher Hoctor: Proverb
New years are like human babies, born with no knowledge from the past, few instincts, and complete dependency... The success of any year depends on our parenting of it.
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Christopher Hoctor: Proverb
One who organizes and directs can make things happen, and take the credit; one who inspires yields great accomplishments, and can take pride in sharing the credit.
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Christopher Hoctor: Proverb
A successful surprise attack must be by design, new and imaginative; else by luck, an old lesson the enemy forgot. The latter is unlikely.
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Christopher Hoctor: Proverb
Some dream for a brighter future, some bear hope;
Those with true hope shape that future in their vision, and awake to it.
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Christopher Hoctor: Proverb
Safety is awareness. When we are aware, we avoid problems. If we wait until they present themselves, we probably don’t have time.
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Christopher Hoctor: Politics
A political divide, no matter how narrow, is a divide. A political debate is the joining of minds. Successful politics is bending the will of your opponent, and bending yourself so you both share the burden and reward. Speak not of politics without a sense of humor, humility, and thick skin. Speak not if you are passionate but not willing to withstand an equal measure of passion in return.
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Christopher Hoctor: Politics
Stamp out political correctness; before it destroys our time-tested traditions, before we lose the ability to complement one another, before we are overcome with fear when addressing one another.
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Christopher Hoctor: Politics
The Constitution does not provision a right to free speech; it says Congress may make no law abridging freedom of speech. A right is an inherent and fundamental gift for all mankind. Some countries trample on people's rights, America is pretty darn good about protecting them. Freedom is another thing, it is NOT inherent, it is NOT free, and it costs money and lives to protect our freedoms. Therefore, freedoms inherently come with responsibility. Having a freedom is something you should cherish, respect, and practice with temperance. You should be grateful to those that defend your freedoms. People who abuse their freedom of speech earn the right to be given an equal measure of abuse in return. God bless America.
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Christopher Hoctor: Politics
Allowing people to exercise their freedoms does not always seem to help the cause (i.e. flag burning, which I abhor), but a measured tolerance provides a greater strength. With that balance set in stone, the entire country needs the best tool to counter the adverse effects of this freedom; Education.
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Christopher Hoctor: Military
I am a loyal crusty old Airman but have come to admire my buzz cut bulldog brethren, especially in recent times. The Marines command a level of respect that would be a mistake not to acknowledge. Their history of sacrifice, service and honor is amended daily with continuous valor. They stand apart.
(From coursework response on the role of Marines)
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Christopher Hoctor: Military
Brilliant leadership brings tactical advantage to war, bravery and wisdom lead to valor, and risk brings greater reward. The combination of these bring victory.
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Christopher Hoctor: Military
My leadership will be reflected in the actions of my people; my squadron’s success will be a measure of my leadership.
(From coursework response on ‘commanding’)
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Christopher Hoctor: Military
No policy or practice in the military dies until someone comes up with a new catch phrase… and then it’s the same thing in a new wrapper.
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Christopher Hoctor: Military
An effective force, a most effective force is a net – resources, capabilities, reconnaissance, leadership and communication woven together
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
If we went to bed knowing we will never wake up, can we say we forgave those who trespassed against us, and asked for forgiveness where we needed to? Can we say with certainty that we have lived a full life, and we are not afraid? I think I could say 'yes', and that is something to be thankful for. Never the less, I hope I'm not being too prophetic!
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
Be informed, but don’t let the facts blind you; seek the truth. It lies somewhere between the lines, above the authors and reporters; a silent presence all around us, obscured by their hidden agendas, and our own bias’.
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
It is the eternal mystery to me that we humans are at the top of the food chain, but arrive in this world with no wisdom, fewer instincts than most other creatures, and no owner’s manual.
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
When we were young, every 'next day' held a promise of new light, new adventures, new hope. For us old folks there may be few remaining, but tomorrow is still the next day and it seems an even greater thing. The idea of tomorrow still holds the promise it did 40 years ago, but so much has changed, all the worries, the drama, the injuries of youth are now behind. The old bones and muscles are shot but the head is full of memories, the heart is filled with loved ones. Memories allow us to live the best parts of life again. Every day the memories ferment into something more rich. I wouldn't trade that for anything. Tomorrow is MY day. Older is not closer to death, it's closer to new life for all!
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
Aye, it's time to quit my job and embark upon the journey
That takes me home to beaches of stone, to watch the boats in tourney;
And all I ask is a view of Gods blessed shore,
In day I watch the winds white caps, at night the lights and more.
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
I think the closer we get to understanding how mass and space first came to be, the closer we will come to understanding God; but science only answers how - God answers why
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
"Remember Pearl Harbor" - The banner in countless places, a battle cry used in 1941 to 1945, and quite often since. Sadly, too many that did remember the attack 70 years ago today, are gone. That call inspired 100's of millions of Americans to mobilize; join the military, retool the factories, pick up that riveter and GO. It wasn't just a call to pitch in, it was a call to sacrifice for a time so the nation can afford to supply a war on tyranny and dictatorship. Our military fought with incredible bravery, our government actually had to have that proverbial 'bake sale' of War Bonds, our citizens had to ration sugar, gas, and many other things.
Today, I see the same kind of inconceivable courage and uncommon valor in our troops as those brave men of WWII. Even though the battle cry has been refreshed in the form of "Remember 9-11", I DON'T see the government controlling spending in order to respond, I don't see a nation mobilizing in that same fashion. We have an elevated sense of patriotism, but not a willingness to sacrifice. We are not even mobilizing against poverty and suffering within our own borders! To me, the difference lies in core values, that is to say the lack of them since they have been stamped out by a terribly misguided idea of political correctness. Those values, undeniably rooted in religion, do not have to be ignored because of separation of church and state; our present condition calls for more than any political party to be correct and succeed in election, it calls for Providence. This does not come from mankind; it comes only from seeking it from a higher authority. Providence will not come without prayer, it will not serve the greedy, it will not come without a price... but spending our nation out of existence is not the price for victory. The only way to victory is emulating the hearts and minds, the commitment and sacrifice, of our "greatest generation".
(FB Post, 7 Dec 2011)
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
About Flying
"a eitilt le teagmháil an aghaidh Dé" (my arms motto, in Irish: To fly, to touch the face of God). I have reached out, touched the face of God, have been drunk on altitude and speed in a world without a frame and full of colors never seen on the ground. Flying will wake something inside you that will never sleep again. It has lifted me and my spirit to soar; although I walk this Earth today that spirit shall never touch down again.
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
Tomorrow will bring yet another sunrise, and by the Grace of God, another chance to live; succeed, screw up, love, learn, rejoice, be sad. Best of all, it will bring opportunity. To give thanks to God, seize it.
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Christopher Hoctor: Inspiration
It’s curious. Every New Year we reflect on the old, and make resolutions for the new. Too many of us resolve to make a personal improvement, in ourselves. Could we not simply resolve to do for others? After all, we will be judged by our deeds for our fellow man, not what we did for ourselves. Resolution is a very strong word; because when we use it for ourselves and break it, we feel we didn’t hurt anyone. Let’s make resolutions for others, tell them, and be accountable.
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Christopher Hoctor: Observations
I don't like it when visitors or citizens speak foreign languages here, but if we 'must' speak English to live here, then Americans should have to speak the local language anywhere they go
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Christopher Hoctor: Observations
Leadership is much like parenting. Neither will ever be perfect but both rely on learning the lessons; not just the old academic lessons, but an aggressive pursuit of learning from what is going on today.
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Christopher Hoctor: Religion
There are many laws in religions that are based upon the needs of the time they were revealed in, and so when another time comes and other needs are important the laws change. But there are also eternal laws that do not change, these are the laws governing spiritual development and are important for the growth of the soul and the Church. Here is one such law given by the Buddha, "Occasions of hatred are certainly never settled by hatred. They are settled by freedom from hatred. This is the eternal law." We could quote many teachers, people of other religions, I see a lot of it on FB. But the truth of the matter is that our 'one, holy catholic' church has such laws as well, and they say it all, if not enough (see Matthew 22: 36-40). Can we live by that law? It's a pressure to be perfect, to be like Christ, which is a noble venture but impossible. We have a hard enough time sticking to church policy! And that is Satan at work dividing the tree into tooth picks.
Christ's Church gave us many other timeless laws; guidance, canons, doctrine, carefully written and interpreted for 20 centuries. These are not as well known as they used to be, but they haven't changed. Sadly, they have fallen under decay and people say they do not fit 'in these times'. I say they fit more than ever, in these times. Reading Compline at the end of every day is more than a way to remember how 'nice' it ended the day when we all read it together. It is a connection to your Church past, and present, a timeless liturgy with true purpose.
I would encourage everyone to find new ways (new to us); ask your priest, from time to time, to resurrect a less used practice that has just as much meaning today as it did 1500 years ago. Connect to the rich heritage of the church, know more about the liturgies you are using, the canons and laws, make life an ongoing church school. Although there are lots of interesting things to know and learn about other religions, it would serve us well to understand our own religion before allowing ourselves to be absorbed by the quips and quotes of others.
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