Seeking God

My Life through the Years

(Part No. 13)

Some may say that I should somehow work and save money and then resume my plans for those two years. Instead, I chose to return to school. You may remember that after high school, I went to a local college for two years, taking many Bible courses. This showed me again that I eagerly wanted to know the Bible. But, of course, I wanted to know what God was saying through Scripture and not false teaching. And this false teaching is very plentiful in many different ways.

During my final days in Pennsylvania, I earnestly sought to seek answers to my dilemma regarding schooling. Finally I decided on Abilene “Christian” College in Abilene, Texas. Thus, I drove to the south-west to Texas and the far-west city of Abilene. It was here that I began running. Actually, I parked in the city park at night and woke up to a man who was “jogging” or running around the park. I opened the door and asked him about what he was doing. He said that he had read Ken Cooper’s new book, Aerobics. (Later he wrote several more, including The Aerobics Way and Aerobics II). I was always interested in health and nutrition, thus I obtained a copy of Aerobics, read it, and began running. Actually, during my time there, I would go out at night (after study) and walk/run to downtown and then back again to the three-room house I had rented from Mrs. Pendergrass.

In this school, I took all of the courses I could. I recall that one semester, I took 20 hours of courses but I didn’t cease. I also took 20 hours of “audit” courses—some 40 hours in the classroom! I was intent on study and learning. I knew that my time there was limited, thus I wanted to learn as much as I could. I took two years of Greek, many hours of Bible, and finished up any secular courses that I needed. It was a very heavy load but I relished this kind of lifestyle. I studied and studied, memorized Scripture. went to chapel, and so forth. I did learn to sing (somewhat) while there and was introduced to numerous songs and hymns (a cappella) that I had not known before. Keep in mind that the purpose in going was to learn and not to “have fun,” the perspective that many students have.

Part of the time, I was in a home group and later I was in another home group. I didn’t believe all that the other men and girls did for they were involved in many aspects of “churchianity” but they did seem to have an interest in the Lord. I sometimes wonder what ever happened to these people (most were fellow-students but there was one professor who just recently died).

I suppose that I could relate many things that occurred during my stay there but I must press on. After I had fulfilled my requirements for the bachelor’s degree, I continued on. However, that final summer there needed to be changed. I took all of my “things” and put them into storage then departed for a job that I had discovered. On campus, there was an enlistment for this job and I went directly to Nashville and then south to northern Alabama. After this period of training, I continued south to Fayette. I took a room at a motel and two friends took rooms there too. One rode a bicycle while the other had a car. They seemed to get alone well together. But eventually the one on the bicycle dropped out and ceased selling.

I well recall those 3-4 months in 100 degree Alabama summer weather. Some of the time was in the town (it was very small) and part of the time was in the countryside. I would ride and sing “When the skies above you are grey…” I would pray and pray, sing and sing, and did what I could to sell Bibles, medical books, Bible story books, etc. This was Southwestern, in case some of you know of it. They wanted us to work long hours (perhaps 60 or 70) but I generally would sell for 50 to 60. At the end of the summer, the company said that I was among the top 30 sellers in a field of 2,000. I don’t know how many are working today.

I was somewhat in a quandary as to what to do after this period and had mailed about one hundred (100) letters out to the “Chamber of Commerce” in many cities in an effort to learn something about what was available in the country. I realize that this sort of information would be limited but what else was I to do? Of course, I eagerly looked at and read what they sent. This proved to be elusive and I wasn’t sure what to do. If you have ever needed to make a decision or move to a new location, you may be able to empathize with this dilemma. What was I to do? Thus, after all of this inquiring (using the mail system), I decided to move back to eastern Pennsylvania. Of course, there was much reluctance for somehow I wondered how all of this would fit into my plans for the future.

Thus, at the close of the selling period, I left Alabama and drove west to Abilene, Texas. There I picked up my belongings (especially books) and drove to eastern Pennsylvania. I was back where I had started—somewhat! I remember the scripture, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproof, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). I didn’t want to have doubting (verses 6-7) but did want to have an assurance.

I committed this to the Lord and made my move.