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A Good Word

Dreams and Fears

As a child during World War II, I watched countless war movies at the neighborhood theater. Intrigued by the idea of women in uniform, one day I vowed that "if anything ever happened," I would join the Army.

In time, peace returned. I flew through junior and senior high, and forgot about the Army. Then in June 1950, at the end of my senior year, "something happened"—the outbreak of the Korean War.

After graduation, I went to work in a bank and life settled into a dull routine—banking by day, watching television with the family at night. All the young men were going to war, so my social life was virtually nonexistent. I felt restless—without purpose.

Until my long-buried vow resurfaced. But now, old enough to become a woman in uniform, the prospect filled me with fear. Leave New Jersey? I'd never been away from home for more than a week. Painfully shy and unable to make friends easily, I'd be alone. No. It was impossible. I couldn't do it.

But the exciting and frightening idea refused to go away. In private, I continued to dream. Now, with several branches of service to choose from, the Army seemed drab. Terrified of water, I easily eliminated the Navy. My dreams became a reality in Air Force blue. I compared the four-year commitment with my safe monotonous freedom and weighed the promise of adventure against my paralyzing fear. It took me several months to find the courage to talk to my parents, and they reacted just as I feared. Daddy did his best to talk me out of it. Mom said little and tried hard to be brave.

Induction came on July 31, 1951. It took all the courage I could muster, but I left alone, never to live at home again.

I survived eight weeks of basic training in San Antonio and, despite the searing heat, dehydration and endless hours of marching and KP (kitchen patrol), my enthusiasm remained high. My two greatest concerns, homesickness and making friends, were never even a problem. After basic training and seven months of radio school, I transferred to McChord Air Force base in Tacoma, Washington. There, in 1953, I met the first Christian I had ever known—the man who would become my husband. Because of his influence and example, my life changed forever. In 1959, I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

A little girl saw a movie and found a dream. A teenager conquered her fear and found adventure. A young woman repented of her sins and found God. And the Lord of the universe orchestrated it all.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21, NIV).