In 1964, The Bridge On the River Kwai was required summer reading before I attended Denison University. The book was fiction but based on history; and I lost my faith in humanity because humanity has had thousands of years to learn to live without war, but they have not succeeded. Then, in second semester, one of my atheist professors wanted me to become an atheist. I told him my mom believed in God; and he said “Did she also tell you there was a Santa Claus?” I challenged myself to find God or die because only eternal hell could be worse than humanity. I transferred to Ohio Northern University; and after 2 years, I found God and became a Christian. Then, I read the Bible: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword..." (Matthew 10:34-39)
A couple of years later, I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education and got a teaching job. In my 2nd year of teaching in Bellefontaine, Ohio, at a school board meeting, the superintendent said he had talked to the elementary physical education teachers (I was one of them) and the teachers had agreed to teach physical education in the hallways because the schools needed the gyms for classroom space. I knew if I
spoke up against him I’d probably lose my job, but I spoke up, and said he hadn’t spoken to me; and the State of Ohio would never approve of teaching physical education in the hallways. A few months later, the superintendent was gone; and I was offered a 3rd year of teaching. Also, that summer, I received the power of the Holy Spirit and am pleased to be a vessel for God’s miracle power.
A few years later, I graduated from Oral Roberts University with a Master's Degree in Theology and was the first lady graduate theologian from Oral Roberts University; then, I developed, managed, and taught in a pre-school for an Assembly of God church.
Later, married, we moved to Florida; and after 4 years of owning and operating our own swimming pool maintenance company, I got a job teaching in Gilchrist Co., Florida. The State of Florida paper I found in my office desk, said the county school system was teaching too much physical education at the detriment of art, music, and computer. The only subject with no enrollment maximum in Florida, at the time, was physical education. There were 2 elementary phys ed teachers (I was one); and we both had double classes all day long. The principle said he didn’t have time to work up a wheel program to eliminate some phys ed and
increase art, music, and computer time. It only took me a couple of days to work up the wheel program; and I handed it to him. The next year, the schools implemented the wheel program. Of course, my position was eliminated because the other phys ed teacher was a hometown teacher; so, I was on unemployment for a while. I have always been interested in improving situations; but if you’re interested in improving situations, you need to expect more challenges.
I'm currently retired from school teaching and live in the country where I'm surrounded by terrific neighbors and God's beautiful natural environment filled with beautiful flowers and creatures. I am closer to God in a garden than anywhere else on earth. Will we be good stewards of the earth?
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1.1) God also created the plants, the animals, and man. (Gen 1.2-27) God said it was man’s job to take care of the garden; but I believe industrialization and human over-population have ruined much of our natural environment. I believe humans are losing God’s beautiful and healthy natural environment because there are few people entering the narrow gate and following the narrow path that leads to Heaven. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13 – 14.
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