Judson U --- Again

We had many good experiences at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but two stand out the most. One is that I got great administrative training in the Air Force. I started out as Chief Clerk (not a very exciting title), then served 6 months as Acting First Sergeant, then finally Special Assistant to the squadron commander.

I could have made a career of the military and reached full retirement at age 41, but I chose to take a 3-month early out for education purposes. This decision was based upon the fact that the Vietnam war was still going strong, and I was assigned to a tactical fighter squadron. We always had to keep a duffle bag packed and would sporadically be called to the base on alert, never knowing if we would be boarding the plane for a 12-month overseas tour in-country.

Not wanting to have another opportunity to look death in the face, combined with the annoyance of having to salute and obey second lieutenants (nurses, supply officers, etc.) just because they had a degree, well, it just seemed like moving on was the right thing to do.

The greatest experience, however, was the new addition to our family. Following an early-pregnancy miscarriage, my wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Our only companion previously was a golden German shepherd, given to us by another airman who was shipping out. The dog had been through both obedience school and guard dog school. But when he growled at my daughter, he was history. We found him a good home in Orlando when we went down for the music conference (see previous blog).

I had mentioned before that my mother doubted that I would ever finish college if I got married. I was determined to prove her wrong. So we loaded up the family and moved to Elgin, Illinois (just outside of Chicago), where we lived on campus, and I attended classes. Most of my credits were at Judson University, so it seemed more prudent to complete my studies and get my degree there. Judson had also become fully accredited since I last attended, so all of my credits were good.

The school operated on a trimester program, where you could attend classes five days a week and earn a four-year degree in three. I only had one year to go, but it was probably the most difficult year of my life. The GI bill was paying for my education, but only a small part of it. I had to take out a government-insured student loan, and we struggled to get by.

My wife worked in the mail room on campus, and I delivered fourth class mail door to door. Back then the post office wouldn't deliver all of those annoying coupons and ads, so companies were contracted to deliver them in baggies that you hung on the doorknob. You were paid by the piece, so you could do quite well if you were willing to work at it.

My routine was that my wife would drive the car, a VW station wagon, and I would sprint to each house and deliver my goods. This worked great until one winter day, when I slipped on a patch of snow-covered ice and went down with my full weight on my foot, breaking a bone near my ankle. No disability offered. No jobs available. No income. Things couldn't get any worse.

Then the car broke down. Now I was in a position to see the outpouring of the love of God to me and my family.