Dog Master, You Say?

Once upon a time in a land faraway, a damsel in distress met her knight in shining armor.

"Who is this man?" asked her uncle, a distinguished lawyer and judge.

"A dock master," she explained. The she was I, as it happened to be.

My uncle's horrified expression eventually became clear--he heard "DOG master." What a dog master is, I have no idea. But it doesn't sound like something to inspire confidence as a profession for a future husband of a female relative. The misunderstanding did serve as a memory to laugh about over the years.

It was also a microcosm of the many clueless looks poor Dennis got (including my own) with regard to his profession. Although for many years a full time minister, he, like Paul of old, had to provide for his family with his hands--and God eventually blessed him with a wonderful career, that of dock master. At one time he was the sole dock master for the entire Army Corps of Engineers! Mighty impressive, right? Then a large company wooed him away to south Texas, where he met me and became a full-fledged Texan for 20 wonderful years.

During that time, he spent a brief period at a shipyard in Florida (while I kept the home fires going in Texas). It was a difficult time for us--maintaining two households, no matter how small, is not for the weak at heart (or pocketbook)! Yet, despite the hardships it entailed, Dennis's foray into Florida was a blessing career-wise--he was able to earn his NAVSEA certification, a requirement for docking U.S. Navy vessels. It is a certification that is quite coveted, the requirements for it being dauntingly strenuous. As in, the keel blocks for docking must be set within 1/4 inch of what is prescribed in the blueprints! And keel blocks, people, are not little kindergarten building blocks. They are massive, 2,000 pound monstrosities! Each individual one!

Then, because of his NAVSEA certification, Dennis was offered a job that we treasure as having been one of the highest worldly privileges he ever had--he was asked to dry dock the USS Missouri in Hawaii. For you who are not up on history, the USS Missouri holds a special place in the annals of WWII history; although it boasts many interesting tales and victories, it is best known for hosting the ceremony of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. It was so exciting to think that Dennis got to walk the deck where this took place! The pictures above are from that drydocking!

Now, to us, to Dennis and myself, this is a pretty neat memory. To think that Dennis was responsible for the care of such a vital vessel in our country's history! It boggles our minds. It blesses us.

But there, dear friends, is the rub, as the Bard would say.

While Dennis's "little" contribution to this historic vessel moves us and is held in high regard by us, if you google the USS Missouri, you will not find Dennis's name. Although his work in its maintenance was integral to the integrity, health, and longevity of the vessel, the names of those who have serviced the vessel, including dock masters, are not to be found. They were integral, yes, but they are nameless.

Last week a lovely Christian entity left this world for her reward. As was mete, she was lauded in many ways worldwide. Yet, even as I rejoiced in the moving details of her life, there was a part of me that said, "But there are many who are just as lauded Heaven-wise, who are not known here on earth." I kept my thoughts to myself, but then Dennis voiced similar thoughts.

"Her life was a wonderful life of service to the Lord," he said, "but I can't help but think about those who are not lauded world-wide, yet are just as important in the eyes of the Lord. Like your grandmother and Auntie."

My thoughts exactly!

If you skim over the chapter known as the chapter of the heroes of faith, Hebrews 11, you find many well-known names. Enoch. Noah. Abraham. Jacob. Sara. Moses. But if you move on to the final verses, you read,

"Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Hebrews 11:35-40.

Do you see the names of these heroes? If you do, please make an appointment with your optometrist--because the names are NOT there! In God's eyes, these men and women of God were heroes. But in the world's eyes, they are nameless.

What did Jesus say? "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).

So you are not known world wide? What does it matter? You belong to Jesus! And because of your faith in His Name, you are precious to Him, your life matters to Him! Your life, however "unknown" you may be this side of Heaven, is of consequence to the One who matters most, to Jesus. You might be unknown here on earth, but your life is a vital part of the continuation of Hebrews 11. I laud you today. And when you get to Heaven, our big brother will honor you and crown you with the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)!

If I had known how to add a subtitle to this blog, it would have read: Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy. You might be nameless in the eyes of the world, but you are SOMEBODY.

I had never noticed the following verse till Dennis brought it to my attention: "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance..."(Isaiah 40:15). We, as humans, think nations and their leaders are wow, so super-duper important. And I would be the first to admit that I would be at a loss as to how to conduct myself (think: nervous!) if I had to hobnob with heads of state-- but that's not God's perspective. Can you see the dust on a scale? Will the dust move the scale? That's how God sees nations! Like dust on a scale! He doesn't see like we see! What is important here on earth is pff! Nothing in eternity!

Don't let yourself get bogged down with the distresses that make up this life. Don't discount the importance of your faith, your life. Lift your eyes to Heaven! Our redemption--and your reward--draweth nigh!