Seeking God:

My Life through the Years

(Part No. 3)

Age 22-24

As we have come to the end of our first and second installments, let me mention this as a quick review. I had been baptized (immersed) in the little stream (we called it a “creek” or, in Pennsylvania, we called it a “crick”!). I was now a baptized (so I thought) young man of sixteen, My life was before me and I began to read, pray, and study as never before. This was only a week or so before eleventh grade in high school and I approached this with much trepidation.

I probably won’t discuss much of this time but will (in the next installment) go into the period that follows. If I had it to do over again things might be different. If I had truly known Jesus as the crucified and risen Savior and if I had been part of a supportive and vibrant assembly of believers, I might have lived differently. Life could have been more exciting and productive. But this never happened. I was alone.

When the time came for my move to eastern Pennsylvania I loaded up my 1955 Buick car and headed east. The first night I spent outside of Lancaster, Pa. and got to meet a family outside of East Petersburg. They directed me across the road to the home of Anna Krall who was renting out rooms and I took one of them. As it turned out, I stayed there for about a year. Mrs. Krall was a kindly lady who prepared meals in her basement for groups of people—with the help of an older Plymouth Brethren woman. I moved into one of those rooms and set up my office.

As I look back now, over the years, I’m grateful for her friendly and outgoing demeanor. She, herself, was raised a Mennonite but I think that by this time, she was nothing. As I remember the time and place, I can marvel at what I had and what I did. God had given me a small table for my reading and studies. I also set up a couple of cardboard shelves for my little library. Each night I would kneel to pray and each morning I would climb out of bed to seek God’s help for the day. Then I would drive to work in Lancaster to the large hospital I mentioned earlier. One of those weeks or months, I contracted “strep throat” and “staff throat” and missed a couple days of work. I think that Mrs. Krall must have had compassion on me and thus began to cook for me each evening (providing food that she made for one of the visiting groups). Much of my time from work was spent in this little study room.

On Sundays I would go to Paul’s house and he would drive me, his wife, and sons to church and this would be repeated on Wednesday night. (I might insert just here that Paul just died within the past couple of weeks and this grieves me greatly. He must have been in his 90s.) Also, I began to edit and produce a little weekly mimeographed paper that I called “The New Testament Christian.” (This was later changed to “The New Testament Christian–Today”)

I would give these out each week or mail them out in an effort to teach as many people as possible. (I think that the circulation at this time—or later—reached about 270 people.) As I recall, Paul would take me to the homes of interested people where he would lead Bible studies and I would eagerly take in as much as I could. By this means, I was able to both learn and teach others.

Some weekdays I would leave the house and walk in the dark down the long, lonely road to an auction (that I think was called “Root’s Auction”). This gave me time to think and pray as I sought the Lord. It was at this time that I solidified my desire for a life work. My plans were to study the Bible and related books in depth. Further, I would preach and teach others as God gave the opportunity. By God’s grace, I would travel the country, preaching and teaching along the way.

Before this grand undertaking, I had preliminary plans that would take about two years. Let me explain this briefly. For perhaps 6 months, I would travel the country to receive the “layout” of America. Then I would find a location in the forest or “woods” where I would set up camp and study for a year in preparation. And the last six months, I would be out again to teach and preach with what I had learned. Of course, many things could arise to change these plans but at least these were part of my lofty dreams for the future. In time, there were some unavoidable changes.

I worked at Lancaster General Hospital for some eight months. In the department in which I worked, I knew that a practice was going on that I could not participate in (I considered it dishonest) and was able to avoid being involved for all of this time. It was not an ideal arrangement but it seemed to work. (I might also mention that there must have been a total of four of us men who were working in lieu of induction.) Most of the employees knew of my conscientious refusal and there was no problem at all. Then one day the manager discovered what I was doing and immediately sent me to the personnel department (today they call this the “Human Resources” Department). I knew that this was somewhat serious. I was required to work for two years to fulfill my duties, after which I would be released by the government and be able to pursue a more normal life.

When I went to this hospital department, I pulled my New Testament from my pocket and turned to 1 Peter 4. As I read this chapter of persecution and suffering, I was able to identify with what the apostle was saying. What a blessed message! In time, the manager arrived and took me to his office.  Of course, I explained my convictions to the gentleman there but he said that I would need to leave that department, thus he would not accommodate my convictions. He sent me to another department where I had to take food to the different hospital sections. This went okay for a short while but when I explained that I would not want to work on the Lord’s day, I was forthrightly dismissed. Thus, I was without employment even though the government stated that I needed to continue working until my two years were up.

Immediately I visited the local draft board and discovered where I could find employment that would qualify and fill the governmental requirements. As I recall, I began my travels. This included going to Norristown, Pa.  Also, I visited a place in rural western Maryland. Further, I traveled to Burlington, Vermont. And finally, I was able to travel to Wooster, Ohio (to the west). I had a pleasant visit with the personnel director who was a professing Christian and he gave me the job! Soon I returned to the hospital environment (from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Wooster, Ohio) and began a fruitful one year and four month stay.

Let me insert an “unusual” event of my past, one that didn’t last but it was significant at the time. As soon as I arrived in Ohio, I had one weekend off. As you know, I was growing restless and felt like I needed to come to a true salvation from sin—but what was I to do?  I was only twenty-three at the time and knew very little. But I must confess that I felt “lost” and alienated from God. Thus, I left Wooster and headed east into Pennsylvania and then north into New York. It was there that I made some phone calls and was able to discuss these important matters by phone. I agreed to meet a preacher at Lake Chautauqua, in the western part of the state and we drove to Lake Erie toward the west—late at night and in the dark.

It was there that this unknown preacher immersed me in the dark lake waters and I emerged (so I thought) a new creature (Romans 6:3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). As you might imagine, I drove the many miles home rejoicing that God had saved me and given me eternal life. This event did take some qualms from me, at least for a while, and it was good at the time.

I could find no “church” (or assembly) there so I visited several. On one occasion I traveled south of the city and visited a small congregation in the country. I remember this well for the men were free to smoke in the congregation and “spit” their tobacco! I visited there only once and continued my visiting. The hospital was much smaller than the 600 room Lancaster Hospital. Wooster Hospital had 120 rooms (as I recall). I found that this place and experience gave me the opportunity to break out of my shyness somewhat. I had to travel all around the building and it seemed that everyone knew me. I talked to many sorts of people, including the small 3-person department where I was situated.

As I recall my year and four months here, I was blessed by God in some tangible ways. The first two or three weeks I stayed in a room rented to me by an older lady, then I rented a little room on the second floor of a house on a main street that took me to the hospital. One or two other men also stayed there at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wachtel (a hairdresser). One of the men was from Argentina and this man (who had a doctorate in perhaps “animal husbandry”) had traveled the country and took thousands of photos of scenes and animals. I determined to also travel America to get to know it closely (which I eventually did!). Back at the house I rented, I also had the use of a lunchroom where I could eat my meals. My room was small but accommodating. I arranged bookcases around the room with one special table for my study and Bible memorization. Sunday night was special for I climbed into bed where I listened on the radio to various preachers, then off to sleep, and then up again to begin the second day of the week. I wondered what lie ahead. What did God have in store for me?

I earnestly studied my Bible and Bible-related books with an effort to learn more of what God had in mind for my future time on earth. This was a time of searching and learning as I prepared for my life work. It was a time for me to break out of my “shell” and learn new things and do new things. It was a time to prepare for what God was teaching me in so many ways.

As I look back to this one year and four months period, I think I can say that it was the most eventful, enlightening, and learning period of my life. Yes, I was somewhat naïve, I was without meaningful fellowship, and I was “locked” into what the American government had for me. Still, I sought to use the period well and I’m so grateful to God for all that He did for me at this time and in this location. By the end of September or the beginning of October of that year, I was prepared to go onward with a renewed confidence and knowledge. Many plans were before me. And many dreams were yet to be fulfilled. Thanks be to Him!

Hopefully in the next installment (Part 4), we’ll continue the journey of my life. Will you join me?

 

 

–Richard Hollerman