Here are two examples that are true. You can check them out at truthorfiction.com.
This is for real. I called Laura Lefler in Sen.. Alexander's office
today, 2/23, and she confirmed that she wrote it and is now overwhelmed
with it spreading via the internet. She sent it so several friends and
they then put it on its journey. Larry Hone
Subject: Bush in church, Very interesting
I'm at the 8:00am service at my church, St. John's Episcopal, at
Lafayette Square, across from the White House. (I wanted to go early
because I was going with Alice and Brent for breakfast at the Cracker
Barrel in Manassas.) Much of the service was uneventful--nice, but
uneventful--until it comes to the part of the service when the priest
says, "Greet one another in the name of the Lord." I turn to my right to
exchange the peace with my friend, Amy Fox Smythe, who was was on the
other end of my pew. I then shake hands with the person in front of me,
and turn around to say hello to the person behind me. The person behind me
was our 43rd President George W. Bush. I am not kidding. A small crowd was
forming around him, and not wanting to delay the church service or bother
him by waiting to shake his hand, I turned back around and sat down and
talked to Amy. About 30 seconds later I felt a hand on my left shoulder
and turn around to see President Bush with his hand extended. "Peace of
the Lord, " he said and held my hand with both of his. "Peace of the
Lord," I replied, and held both his hands and smiled at him. I turned back
around and was remarkably calm about the fact that the most powerful
person in the world was sitting two feet behind me. I could hear him
flipping through his bulletin as the priest made the announcements. I
loved the idea of him thinking, "Oh, there's a covered dish next Sunday."
We perched and when I stood up to go to the communion rail, he got up and
walked down the aisle behind me. We passed a little old lady who said,
"Mr. President, I pray for you every day." To which he said, "That's a
very special gift. Thank you so much." We got to the communion rail and
there were two spaces, one in front of us and one around the side of the
altar. We both surmised for ten seconds and then I started off around the
corner. He stopped me and whispered, "No, no. I'll go around" and motioned
for me to take the closer spot. The only exception made in the entire
service was that the President was allowed to leave first and then the
rest of the congregation followed.
With all sincerity, and partisanship aside I tell you: This is a special
man! There is a peace and a Godliness about him. It radiates from him. It
is the only reason that I was able to remain calm. It was more than the
adrenaline I've felt when I've met other famous people. A goodness flows
through this man. He has more than my vote in November. He has my respect,
my prayers, and my gratitude. Whatever your political affiliation, and
whether or not you agree with his decisions, you should take comfort in
the fact that--despite recent press attacks--this is a man of integrity
who makes decisions because he believes that they are RIGHT, not popular. He
makes these decisions with a heavy heart and through prayer.
I don't mean to go on, and on, but I truly believe this was a blessing
from God that should be passed on.
Laura Lefler
Office of Senator Lamar Alexander
302 Hart Senate Office Building
202-224-4944
fax: 202-228-3398
and
For those of us who sometimes find ourselves having doubts abour
our President, here is an excellent piece--- worth every minute it takes
to read it.
This is from a man, Bruce Vincent, from Montana who received an award
from the President.
He writes: I've written the following narrative to chronicle
the day of the award ceremony in DC. I'm still working on a press release
but the White House press corps has yet to provide a photo to go with it.
When the photo comes I'll ship it out. When you get done reading this you'll
understand the dilemma I face in telling this story beyond my circle of close
friends.
The moment with the President in the Oval Office was incredible. I
want to protect the memory because it was an intensely private moment
between two men. At the same time I'd like to share it on a broader scale
because I'd like others to know what I know about the man sitting at the desk
in the Oval Office. For now, I'll just tell it to you folks.
As you know, our efforts concerning the reintroduction of our rural, resource
providing cultures to the ever more urbane society of our nation has been
honored with an award from the President and First Lady Bush.
Nominated by the Forest Service for the first ever Preserve America
President's Award was our cultural exchange program Provider PalsT
and our restoration of an abandoned CCC built Forest Service ranger station
(Raven Ranger Station) for use as a learning center for students from
throughout the nation that are now engaged in our cultural exchange.
The award was given at a White House ceremony on Monday, May 3.
Guests at the East Room ceremony (the Rose Garden was going to be
used but it rained) included Secretary of Interior Gorton, Secretary of
Agriculture Venneman, Undersecretary Mark Rey, Chief Bosworth,
President's Advisory Council for Preserve America, and others. The
East Wing was closed to the public for the event and those who attended
enjoyed brunch and live chamber music.
Provider PalsT was able to bring members of our board of directors,
staff from our partner Communities for a Great Northwest, our Kootenai
Forest Supervisor and Forest Archaeologist, and two officials from our major
sponsor Ford Motor Company. Thankfully, I was also able to bring PJ
and all four children. In the East Room, Secretaries Venneman and Gorton
spoke as did First Lady Bush and Preserve America's Chairman John Nau.
The First Lady then gave autographed copies of a White House book
to award winners in this ceremony and posed for pictures. When the ceremony
concluded, the First Lady stayed for a bit in the Green Room and chatted
and posed for pictures. She was then escorted outside to meet the
President and board a Marine One helicopter waiting to whisk them off to the
airport.
For me, however, the biggest event of the day had already happened
when the East Room Ceremony started up. While the East Room ceremony
was being prepared, the four national award winners and the entities that
nominated them were taken to the Oval Office for the official award
presentation by President Bush and First Lady Bush. There were eight of us
in total.
Stepping into the Oval Office, each of us was introduced to the President
and Mrs. Bush. We shook hands and participated in small talk. When
the President was told that we were from Libby, Montana, I reminded him
that Marc Racicot is our native son and the President offered his warm
thoughts about Governor Racicot.
I have to tell you, I was blown away by two things upon entering
the office. First, the Oval Office sense of 'place' is unreal. The
President later shared a story of Russian President Putin entering the
room prepared to tackle the President in a tough negotiation and upon
entering the atheist muttered his first words to the President and they were
"Oh, my God." I concurred. I could feel the history in my bones. Second,
the man that inhabits the office engaged me with a firm handshake and a
look that can only be described as penetrating. Warm, alive, fully engaged,
disarmingly penetrating. I was admittedly concerned about meeting the man.
I think all of us have an inner hope that the most powerful man in our country
is worthy of the responsibility and authority that we bestow upon them through
our vote. I admit that part of me was afraid that I would be let down by
the moment - that the person and the place could not meet the lofty
expectations of my fantasy world. This says nothing about my esteem
for President Bush but just my practical realization that reality may not
match my 'dream.'
Once inside the office, President Bush got right down to business and,
standing in front of his desk, handed out the awards one at a time while
posing for photos with the winners and Mrs. Bush. With the mission
accomplished, the President and Mrs. Bush relaxed and initiated a lengthy,
informal conversation about a number of things with our entire small group.
He and the First Lady talked about such things as the rug in the office. It is
traditionally designed by the First Lady to make a statement about the President,
and Mrs. Bush chose a brilliant yellow sunburst pattern to reflect 'hope.'
President Bush talked about the absolute need to believe that with hard work
and faith in God there is every reason to start each day in the Oval Office with
hope.
He and the First Lady were asked about the impact of the Presidency
on their marriage and, with an arm casually wrapped around Laura, he
said that he thought the place may be hard on weak marriages but that it had
the ability to make strong marriages even stronger and that he was
blessed with a strong one.
When asked what the biggest challenge of the Presidency was, he talked
about the daily frustration of partisan politics. 'This from a politician,'
he said. He said that when he was elected he promised that he would
do in DC what he had done in Texas and that was build alliances and
coalitions that bridged party lines in order to move the nation forward. He
had quickly learned that there are those in the nation's capital that would
rather see the nation dismantled than work together to achieve a common
good. That, he said is a bitter and continuing disappointment.
The President talked about the artwork and other items of interest in the
room. For instance the desk he uses is the one that was given to the
U.S. by Queen Victoria and used by FDR and JFK. In fact FDR had a front
panel added to the desk to cover the mid section because FDR did not want
the country to know he was in a wheelchair. President Bush laughed and
said, "My how things have changed, FDR hid a wheelchair and if I eat a
pretzel and get a tingle in my arm it's front page news around the globe."
That little desk faux front is hinged by the way, and is the door that we all
have seen John-John sticking his head from behind in the famous photo of
JFK at work.
The President also noted that much of the artwork in the office is from
Texas or about Texas. He said that it made sense for him to have it in his
office because Texas is part of who he is. He talked about family and
place and faith helping to build the person you end up being and noted that
the Oval Office reflected who he is. He noted that it would be a mistake
to come to the Oval Office and entertain a mission to 'find yourself.'
He said that with all of the pressures and responsibilities that go with the
job, you'd best know who you are when you put your nameplate on the desk
in the Oval Office. He said he knows who he is and now America has had four
years to learn about who he is. If they like what they see, he may have
another four years. If not, then he may be going back to Texas.
After about 30 or 35 minutes, it was time to go. By then we were all relaxed
and I felt as if I had just had an excellent visit with a friend.
The President and First Lady made one more pass down the line of awardees,
shaking hands and offering congratulations. When the President shook my
hand I said, "thank you Mr. President and God bless you and your family."
He was already in motion to the next person in line, but he stopped abruptly,
turned fully back to me, gave me a piercing look, renewed the vigor of his
handshake and said, "Thank you - and God bless you and yours as well."
On our way out of the office we were to leave by the glass doors on the west
side of the office. I was the last person in the exit line. As I shook his hand
one final time, President Bush said, "I'll be sure to tell Marc hello and give him
your regards." I then did something that surprised even me. I said to him,
"Mr. President, I know you are a busy man and your time is precious. I also
know you to be a man of strong faith and have a favor to ask you." As he shook
my hand he looked me in the eye and said, "Just name it."
I told him that my step-Mom was at that moment in a hospital in Kalispell,
Montana, having a tumor removed from her skull and it would mean a great
deal to me if he would consider adding her to his prayers that day. He grabbed
me by the arm and took me back toward his desk as he said, "So that's it.
I could tell that something is weighing heavy on your heart today. I could see it
in your eyes. This explains it." From the top drawer of his desk he retrieved a
pen and a note card with his seal on it and asked, "How do you spell her name?"
He then jotted a note to her while discussing the importance of family and the
strength of prayer. When he handed me the card, he asked about the surgery
and the prognosis. I told him we were hoping that it is not a recurrence of an earlier
cancer and that if it is they can get it all with this surgery. He said, "If it's okay
with you, we'll take care of the prayer right now. Would you pray with me?" I told
him yes and he turned to the staff that remained in the office and hand motioned
the folks to step back or leave.
He said, "Bruce and I would like some private time for a prayer." As they left he
turned back to me and took my hands in his. I was prepared to do a traditional
prayer stance - standing with each other with heads bowed. Instead, he reached
for my head with his right hand and pulling gently forward, he placed my head on
his shoulder. With his left arm on my mid back, he pulled me to him in a prayerful
embrace. He started to pray softly. I started to cry. He continued his prayer for
Loretta and for God's perfect will to be done. I cried some more. My body shook a
bit as I cried and he just held tighter. He closed by asking God's blessing on
Loretta and the family during the coming months. I stepped away from our
embrace, wiped my eyes, swiped at the tears I'd left on his shoulder, and looked
into the eyes of our President. I thanked him as best I could and told him that me
and my family would continue praying for he and his.
As I write this account down and reflect upon what it means, I have to tell you that
all I really know is that his simple act left me humbled and believing. I so hoped
that the man I thought him to be was the man that he is. I know that our nation
needs a man such as this in the Oval Office.
George W. Bush is the real deal. I've read Internet stories about the President
praying with troops in hospitals and other such uplifting accounts. Each time I
read them I hope them to be true and not an Internet perpetuated myth. This one,
I know to be true. I was there. He is real. He has a pile of incredible stuff on his
plate each day - and yet he is tuned in so well to the here and now that he 'sensed'
something heavy on my heart. He took time out of his life to care, to share, and to
seek God's blessing for my family in a simple man-to-man, father-to-father,
son-to-son, husband-to-husband, Christian-to-Christian prayerful embrace.
He's not what I had hoped he would be. He is, in fact, so very, very much more.
