When I was in the U.S. Navy (especially in boot 
  camp), one criminal offense that would result in 
  certain death was the failure of a recruit to 
  remove the "little white tag" from their brand new 
  uniform.  The scenario is (for any potential 
  recruits who may be out there) that you enlist in 
  the Navy, check into boot camp, get issued a brand 
  new uniform, and then stand inspection in it. 

  What happens is, the uniform that you were just 
  issued is of course, a brand new garment right out 
  of a plastic wrapper.  Therefore, lurking deep 
  within the pockets somewhere is a "little white 
  [inspection] tag" placed there by the garment 
  inspector, to insure one of the quality of the 
  uniform you are wearing. 

  Next comes the time for Battalion Staff Inspection 
  (BATT STAFF) where seasoned Chief Petty Officers 
  search for these tags, even going through pockets, 
  looking for a "Kill."  One poor fellow from North 
  Carolina, I saw physically crawling around on his 
  hands and knees blowing a "little white tag" around 
  the entire perimeter of the barracks and saying 
  with each breath, "Get out of my life, little white 
  tag- you [ruined](*1) my life."  So we learned well,
  to guard against such.  

 (1) Actual terminology changed for "G" rated conference   
             ---------------------------------


  (16 years later...)

  This past Sunday, the Lord blessed me with a new 
  friend that I made while visiting a certain church 
  which I was invited to for the very first time.  It 
  was a real good feeling to be there. 

  What happened was, I came in (by myself) to a very 
  beautiful and spotlessly clean church in Virgina 
  and took a seat in the middle section, about nine 
  or ten rows from the front.  This was after I had 
  greeted the pastor in the lobby.  Seated in front 
  of me and to my left was a very traditional and 
  proper looking couple in their forties.  One lady 
  was seated behind me to my left.  Nobody spoke.  
  The place was not exactly packed yet, as I had 
  arrived early. 

  Then enters a mother (forty something) with her 
  lovely daughter (ten maybe) into the row of seats
  two rows ahead of me and sat down.  They obviously
  loved each other *very much, hugging each other,
  sitting real close together, smiling, getting their
  books together, etc.  I thought, "Wow, what a loving 
  family."  I felt happy for them. 

  Then, as people often do when waiting for the 
  service to begin, I began looking around at this 
  immaculately clean, and well organized Baptist 
  church.  While doing so, the mother and her 
  (beautiful) daughter sitting in front of me took off
  their coats to get settled in.  When I looked back
  towards them again, it was obvious that the mother
  was wearing a brand *new sweater!  It was easy to
  detect because there was a GIANT WHITE TAG hanging
  from the collar to the rear, facing the congregation.
  I mean this was a *big white tag, the biggest I had
  ever seen in my entire life.  It explained the 
  company's entire pledge of quality assurance! 

  I knew that the traditional, proper couple in front 
  and to the left of me saw it because the mother was 
  sitting almost right in front of them!  They didn't
  move except to notice what I had.  Out of my
  peripheral vision I caught a frame of the lady
  behind me- and to my left to see if she had also
  seen the tag.  She did. What I was trying to do was
  to assess the damage...  as she had only had her
  coat off about forty seconds when I realized what
  I was seeing. 

  Then I felt this love for her or something.  Like 
  she was helpless and would be embarrassed if she 
  sat through the entire service with a giant white 
  tag facing back toward the whole congregation from 
  her new sweater.  I remembered the Chief Petty 
  Officers.  I felt that she was my sister (in 
  Christ) and that I should do something.  "What if 
  it were me?" I asked myself.  "Do you love her 
  enough to get up and go do something?"

  This might not seem like a big deal to some, but 
  there are some things that would make this 
  difficult; 

     #1- I'm shy anyway,
     #2- We live in a "no touch" world right now, and
     #3- I was a complete stranger to the church.

  So this was a major decision for me.  Well, about 
  twenty five seconds went by as these cumulative 
  thoughts passed through my mind, then I simply found 
  my body getting up and walking as I said to myself, 
  "I guess your going to do it." 

  I walked all the way down to the far end of my 
  empty row, and then back down into the row behind 
  my target, as I slid down close behind and to the 
  right of her (the mother).  This placed me next to 
  the traditional, proper couple who still weren't 
  moving, and blocked the young mother's back from
  the rest of the congregation.  She had noticed me
  approaching-  that was good because I made eye
  contact with her and used that opening to make an
  introduction telling her that the pastor had invited,
  me and that I was a first time vistor, and blah blah
  blah, with a sincere smile.  I said, "Hi" to her
  daughter. :) 

  Then just at the normal conclusion point of such a 
  (new user) greeting, as she turned forward again,
  I leaned in and whispered into her ear like a 
  friend, "Hey you've got a little tag here," as I 
  touched her at the bottom of her neck where the tag 
  was.  "would you like me to get it?" I asked. 
  
  Too stunned for words, through body language she 
  said, yes, turning herself towards me.  I was a little 
  scared, because I did not know if I had the 
  strength to break that plastic tie holding the tag.  
  Some are extremely hard to break!  I always use a
  pair of scissors at home (or onboard ship).  I think
  the Lord gave me added grace because the tie broke
  (snap!).  I passed it to her, discreetly, talked with
  her for a moment (as though I came over for some 
  *other reason) and then said, "Goodb-y-e," (musically)
  and returned to my seat. 

  After the service, our eyes met as we shook hands 
  and she said, "You'll be my friend for life." 
  Those words meant a lot to me.  And I think that I,
  too, will always love my new friend.  She helped me
  in a way, also.  She provided an opportunity for me
  to search myself for Christ's love, then she made it
  easy for me a stranger, later upon our exit,
  with her kind words.  

  If there were any "Chief Petty Officers" in the 
  congregation, which had eventually filled up, they 
  lost out because of the love that Yeshua places 
  between the hearts of His believers.

  Michael Stevenson

  Salvation Station
  www.circlegame.com