Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: CABIN (09/08/22)
-
TITLE: Darkness Into Light | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
09/15/22 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
It would take us 29 days to reach our first port Livorno, Italy. We would visit different ports throughout the cruise for approximately 10 to 12 days at each port. Crossing the Atlantic the Navy would perform their maneuvers.
The first lieutenant, first sergeant, and corpsman had their own quarters. The rest of us were in the very bottom cabin of the ship. There was one light bulb that barely lit our area. The racks hung on chains and were three high. Me being the lowest in rank had one of the top racks.
We had 30 minutes to settle in and report above deck. We only had our duffel bags and the Navy provided a small foot locker. Quarters were close and when we changed we would usually hit another marine in the back of the head with an elbow.
I volunteered for KP (kitchen police) duty for the first 30 days. I figured doing it while out at sea would be better than having it while in port on leave. I met the petty officer who was in charge of the kitchen help and a sailor by the name of Denny who also volunteered for the first 30 days. Since we were the lowest on the totem pole we got to do all the dirty work.
One of our chores happened every other night at two AM. We dumped the garbage into the ocean. Not one of my favorite things to do. There was a gift and it was to see how many stars hung in the sky. A human could never count them.
After this task, I cleaned up and worked my way back to my cabin. I climbed into my bunk but didn’t fall asleep immediately. Laying in my bunk, I heard someone whispering in their sleep and another marine snoring. My thoughts drifted back to the stars. It was an incredible sight. An amazing picture of beauty like I never saw before.
I didn’t become a believer until years after I was discharged. By then I joined a church and bible study and we came across Gen. 22:17. It tells about God’s promise to Abraham “blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven….” I am sure Abraham was overwhelmed by this, just as I was overwhelmed to see the stars at night at sea. A task I started out disliking was now something I looked forward to.
The cabin was so dark and I thought was my soul this dark before learning about Jesus and what He did for me on the cross? The people I hung around with didn’t go to church. We never thought about it. We thought we were invincible and we could handle any situation that came along. We didn’t need any help.
It seemed impossible to surrender all I had to God. Letting Him be in charge of everything. Then I thought of the captain of the ship. The man in charge who took us across the Atlantic and back. He used instruments to get the ship from spot A to spot B. I didn’t know this guy but yet I confidently walked onto his ship not even thinking about was I safe or not? Today my compass is God’s Word. As a believer I use it to guide me through life. It keeps me focused on Jesus and how to walk in the light.
The rustling of my fellow marines signaled it was morning. I quickly dressed and skipped breakfast. I raced on deck and was greeted by a warm sun and blue sky. My skin felt as if it was being cleansed by the sun. I escaped from a dark dungeon to the light of life. Ephesians 5:8 reminds me when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. “For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of their Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).” All verses NKJV
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Nicely done,
God bless~
God Bless~