Turning Points
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
| Thirty Love February 10, 2006 |
Cherokee Park in Louisville had some great courts that I
visited in 1966 whenever possible to sharpen my
miserable tennis game. I usually carried my scripture cards
with me in those days so I could use any spare time to
brush up on my verse memorization. Somehow, one day I
left the tennis court with my verse packet still on the bench
visited in 1966 whenever possible to sharpen my
miserable tennis game. I usually carried my scripture cards
with me in those days so I could use any spare time to
brush up on my verse memorization. Somehow, one day I
left the tennis court with my verse packet still on the bench
courtside.
It showed up in the mail a few days later since I had my name and address printed on the back. I
decided that whoever found the packet and took the trouble to return it to me deserved a letter of
thanks. And I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to share with the stranger why I took the
trouble to memorize bible verses.
A few days later, I learned that the finder was a retirement home chaplain because he called to
invite me to a weekly Saturday night evangelistic program for Army basic trainees. Powell and
Helene Royster headed the program that bussed the soldiers into Louisville from Fort Knox, about
an hour’s drive away. I overcame my shyness and showed up the following Saturday night at the
chapel in the Trinity Towers retirement facility. Soon I was serving as a counselor for young men
who responded to the invitation to surrender their lives to Christ. Most of these young men were
bound for Vietnam after basic training. I am sure that many never returned.
Each Saturday night when I entered the chapel I saw a beautiful young lady who sat alone in a
pew and after screwing up my courage, I introduced myself. She was also working in the program
as a hostess serving food and soft drinks to the soldiers after the evangelistic service was over.
A blond lady on the arm of her husband walked with an artificial leg down the hallway where I met
them at the program. I soon struck up a friendship with Jack and Helen Gibson that led to forming
a bible study group in their home. The beautiful young lady whose name was Judy Steorts also
came to the bible study but since she didn’t have a car, I quickly offered to pick her up each week
from the Women’s Club downtown where she lived.
My tennis game didn’t improve all that much but that forgetful moment when I left the packet
behind led to some relationships that have lasted decades and a marriage that is the great
blessing of my life.
It showed up in the mail a few days later since I had my name and address printed on the back. I
decided that whoever found the packet and took the trouble to return it to me deserved a letter of
thanks. And I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to share with the stranger why I took the
trouble to memorize bible verses.
A few days later, I learned that the finder was a retirement home chaplain because he called to
invite me to a weekly Saturday night evangelistic program for Army basic trainees. Powell and
Helene Royster headed the program that bussed the soldiers into Louisville from Fort Knox, about
an hour’s drive away. I overcame my shyness and showed up the following Saturday night at the
chapel in the Trinity Towers retirement facility. Soon I was serving as a counselor for young men
who responded to the invitation to surrender their lives to Christ. Most of these young men were
bound for Vietnam after basic training. I am sure that many never returned.
Each Saturday night when I entered the chapel I saw a beautiful young lady who sat alone in a
pew and after screwing up my courage, I introduced myself. She was also working in the program
as a hostess serving food and soft drinks to the soldiers after the evangelistic service was over.
A blond lady on the arm of her husband walked with an artificial leg down the hallway where I met
them at the program. I soon struck up a friendship with Jack and Helen Gibson that led to forming
a bible study group in their home. The beautiful young lady whose name was Judy Steorts also
came to the bible study but since she didn’t have a car, I quickly offered to pick her up each week
from the Women’s Club downtown where she lived.
My tennis game didn’t improve all that much but that forgetful moment when I left the packet
behind led to some relationships that have lasted decades and a marriage that is the great
blessing of my life.
___________________________________________________
| And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV) |
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