I was 13 years old. My sweet friend had invited me to join her youth group at Caswell Baptist Camp, in Southport, NC. Nothing could compare to the vesper service by the sea that life-changing evening when I made the most important decision of my life. It was dusk; the sun was slipping down behind the watery horizon when my heart warmed at the words of truth.

As the salty breeze blew across my face, the white-haired teacher shared the first scripture I would ever memorize, Micah 6:8: “What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy Lord.” Such an imprint was made upon my rescued soul, an imprint that would change my eternal course. Though I’d been in church all of my young life, it was at this time and place that my heart opened to my Savior. I have never regretted this decision; nor will I turn back.

Many years passed before I understood that ‘doing justly’ was reaching outward in a godly response to my neighbor. In some of the most challenges places, I would often hear Holy Spirit say: “Pray for justice and fairness.” That of course meant justice and fairness for the other party as well as myself.

I had admired the fruit of faithfulness in those who were in my social circle; but I came to appreciate even more deeply what a treasure loyalty was…an inward work that comes as we learn to ‘love God’s mercy.’

‘Walking humbly with the Lord’ continues for me as a work in progress, an upward focus while knowing that nothing in and of myself could ever bear the fruit of godliness. If there is any humble fragrance of Christ, it only results from years of learning {the hard way} to take the low posture and turn my heart towards the High and Holy One.

Though this experience was many years ago, I can remember the old war barracks we used as our quarters. I can remember the young friends who made me feel so welcomed ~ one with whom I still have contact. I remember passionately reading my first Christian book: “Angel Unaware,” by Dale Evans Rogers. My public profession followed a few weeks later back home in Raleigh at a Billy Graham Crusade. It all seems just like yesterday…a yesterday that changed today and all of my tomorrows, into eternity.