THE VOLUNTEER

It was late afternoon on a Wednesday. I was sitting in my family room about to watch the early evening news. Carol was busy in the kitchen getting dinner prepared when the phone rang.

It was dear friend Matt, a USMC helicopter pilot. He was quite agitated and said, “Allan, I need you to tell me what to do!”

I asked him, “What is going on Matt that you need me?”

He said, “You recall that a few weeks ago I told you that my best friend, a helicopter pilot, was killed while working as a Forward Air Controller with 7th Marines.”

I replied, “Yes I do Matt, I remember you even gave me his name and I have been praying for him and his family ever since. What is happening now?”

Matt explained, “Well today my battalion commanding officer informed me that the Division is seeking a replacement for him and are canvassing all of the Forward Air Controllers to replace him.”

Matt was perplexed and wanted to volunteer for the Afghanistan tour and complete his friend’s mission.

Matt said, “I want to go and honor my friend, but my wife doesn’t want me to go. What should I do?”

I met Matt some years before my retirement as an evangelist in the New Apostolic Church. Matt had met a young lady who was a member of our church in Germany. They met while Matt was stationed in Florida. They fell in love and were married just about the time Matt was stationed at Miramar Marine Corp Air Station in the northern part of San Diego.

Matt and his bride Stef attended Sunday morning services regularly for years in our church in El Cajon where I often served. Matt and I “clicked” and with mutual respect we became good friends. Matt’s deployments overseas often put him in harm’s way, so many investments of prayers and support deepened our relationship.

Consequently, it was not surprising that Matt would call me that Wednesday afternoon when he was facing a real dilemma with the issues at hand. Obviously there was turmoil in his heart as well has his wife’s.

I said, “Matt, your desire to volunteer to honor your friend is noble, courageous and honorable. I respect you for that desire and the willingness to make that sacrifice. But you must also honor your wife and her desires. You and Stef must first come to full agreement as to this decision. I am sorry, but I cannot tell you what to do. However, I will tell you what I would do. This evening is a divine service in El Cajon. I would pray and ask God to provide me with the right answer in the service tonight. I would place this situation in the Lord’s hands and see what His word would be for me as it comes from the servant who knows nothing of my situation. That is what I would do.”

Matt replied, “Stef and I will discuss this and decide what to do.” He thanked me and we hung up the phone.

Now Matt and Stef did not normally attend services on Wednesdays. Stef had been attending school and Matt’s schedule usually didn’t allow regular midweek freedom. With this in mind I prayed for them and their situation. In my prayer I asked God to please provide a clear direction for them through the words of the sermon. I also asked that should they not attend the service for whatever reason; please give me their answer so I could convey it to them afterward.

I went to the kitchen and asked Carol to pray with me as I wanted to again seek God’s blessing on Matt’s situation and the decision he had to make. After dinner, Carol and I left for service in El Cajon.

As I sat in the pew, I kept wondering if Matt and Stef would make to service. I mightily resisted turning around to see if they had come. As I awaited the start of the service, I reiterated my pleas to God for an answer.

The service began and I was excited to see that our district elder was conducting the service. He had just recently been assigned to serve our congregation and as yet really did not know every one of the members, particularly Matt and Stef.

As the service progressed, I heard a word that caused great excitement in my soul. It was a simple word, but precisely focused on the situation that Matt was facing. I so hoped that they had made it to the service. When it came time for Holy Communion, I noticed that they had both made it to service. Now my excitement was really elevated.

When the service concluded, I made a beeline to Matt and Stef and said, “Wow! Wasn’t that an extraordinary sermon?”

Their faces didn’t reflect my excitement as Matt replied, “It was a wonderful sermon, but we didn’t hear an answer. Can you talk with us?”

I said, “Of course, let’s go into the Mother’s Room for privacy.”

We entered the Mother’s Room and closed the door.

I said, “What I received from the sermon relative to your decision is this: If you are faced with a critical decision and it seems like there is no easy solution as to which way to turn, place it God’s hands through a fervent prayer. Then make the best decision you can and if it is the right decision, God will support it and all will be well. But if it is the wrong decision, God will change things and all will be well.”

Emotionally they asked me, “Will you pray with us?”

I said, “No, you have our district elder here, you should have him pray with you.”

We all agreed and just as we exited the Mother’s Room, the district elder opened the Sacristy door. I introduced Matt and Stef to him and asked him to pray with them. The three of them entered the sacristy and closed the door.

My purpose in refusing to pray with them was to take myself out of this situation and place it solely in God’s hands. Since the district elder had no knowledge of what had happened in the previous hours, his prayer and what would follow would be completely in the purview of God.

They soon exited the sacristy and Matt raced outside. Unknown to me, Matt had committed to his commander that he would give an answer by nine o’clock that evening. It was about eight-fifty when they exited the sacristy; hence his speedy exit from the church so he could phone his commander. Stef came over to me and I asked her what they decided.

Stef said, “We decided he will volunteer.”

I asked, “And you are okay with that?”

She said, “After our understanding and the prayer with the district elder, we know it is in God’s hands, and He will insure all goes well.”

The next day in the early afternoon, my phone rang once again. It was Matt.

“Allan, just like you said, just like you said!” Matt spoke excitedly into the phone.

“”What has happened Matt?” I replied.

“I just left my commanding officer’s office,” Matt said, “and he thanked me for volunteering to finish my friend’s tour in Afghanistan. Then he said that they made a different decision on the matter.”

I was thrilled and quietly offered up a prayer of thanksgiving.

Matt concluded, “Just like you said! We put it into His hands and He changed it!”

Reflecting on this blessing, one can see that Matt found favor for courageously volunteering, but God insured that His will and blessing prevailed and Stef’s desire was also fulfilled.

Turning Point

This experience taught me many things, but the most profound realization was that God brings us into and through some unique learning experiences and thus prepares us to be a blessing to someone in the future. This experience prepared me to show two very special people in my life the principles learned here and help them make their decisions with God’s blessings.

COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN E. MUSTERER