You Can Be a Person
of Good News

by Fr. Peter C. Sanders

God can use even a cold heart to set a person up to be His emissary.

“Mister!” came the loud authoritarian voice from the first-class officer I had just passed on the Academy quadrangle.
Snapping to attention, I yelled, “Sir, Midshipman Sanders, fourth-class, sir!”
Of all people, it was “Zippy” demanding an inspection of my uniform. He was a Battalion cadet officer, notorious for the constant “chip on his shoulder” – the meanest in the whole regiment.
Inspecting me up and down, he commanded, “Button your top button.” (I was a “plebe” and was obliged to follow his commands.)
I replied, “Sir, Midshipman Sanders, fourth-class, sir. I believe that’s hazing, sir.”
“I don’t care what you think it is.” He continued angrily, “Are you disobeying an order?”
“Sir, Midshipmen Sanders, fourth-class, sir; that is not a legitimate order, sir.”
Enraged, Zippy retorted, “You will find out what this means!”

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