Every Day God Gives Me
This post appeared in “Reflections,” in the Sept. 1, 2023, edition of the Branson Globe
Like many WWII veterans, my dad never talked much about his experiences. Going through his belongings after he passed away, I found many indications that he witnessed some horrible things while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific, where he fought in the battles of Saipan and Okinawa and served in the occupation of Japan; but during my growing-up years, he rarely spoke of the war.
Except for one story.
I’m not sure of the exact date, but apparently Dad and his companions were on a troop ship, headed toward the Japanese mainland. The average Marine knew no details of the Manhattan Project and possible nuclear attack; they were just awaiting orders for an invasion, when one day, the sound of an approaching aircraft seized everyone’s attention. As it came closer, it was obviously a kamikaze plane headed right for them.
Dad said some men dropped to their knees in prayer; some clutched pocket-sized Bibles; others resolutely faced forward—but at the last possible second, the plane swerved and crashed into the ocean nearby. Crew members using binoculars reported being able to see the pilot’s face in the cockpit, and several said they were positive the man smiled and raised a hand in salute.
The use of the atomic bomb likely saved hundreds of thousands of Allied lives, but before the Enola Gay ever took off, an unknown Japanese pilot, for who knows what reason, decided to spare a ship full of Americans. Since many innocent civilians were not in agreement with their emperor, Dad said he liked to think maybe that pilot had a praying mother or grandmother, or maybe the pilot knew the attack was wrong but had no way to escape until that split-second decision. Dad even wondered if he might meet that pilot in heaven someday.
Dad always believed his and his companions’ lives were spared for a reason. After becoming a Christian himself, he determined to take every opportunity to share the gospel with others, quoting from Philippians 2:13, “. . . for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (NIV). Greg Mundis, whose story was shared in last week’s Reader’s Corner, says it well, “. . . Our Sovereign Lord makes the decision for us as to when we enter His glory and when we remain on earth to fulfill a purpose He has for our lives.”
Dad did jail ministry for many years, and never hesitated to share his faith with co-workers and friends. During his last couple of years on earth, he often became frustrated with his physical frailty and questioned why God hadn’t yet taken him to heaven. But when I reminded him that God apparently wasn’t done with him, he found purpose in prayer. I often took him a list of prayer needs from family and friends, and he also prayed for his nursing home care team.
I pray that Dad’s WWII story—and his example—continue to remind me that every day I’m given is for a purpose.