This week I’ve enjoyed meeting, by phone, several recently commissioned Navy and Coast Guard ensigns who are currently en route to their first ships and boats.

What joy I felt as I shared how faithful the Lord had been to me 28 years ago when I first arrived aboard the USS Mars (AFS-1), a now-decommissioned ship.

The quizzical looks I received upon arrival shed light on how challenging the next 5 weeks would be. At that time, I was a midshipman first class (MIDN 1/C), a rank that falls between enlisted and officer ranks. Because of the training nature of this temporary duty, I was considered part of the wardroom, albeit with the junior ranking of “not-quite an officer.”

After dumping my seabag by my bunk, I learned that I was the only female among the ship’s company of over 300 sailors and officers. The two other (male) MIDN 1/C and I then went to the Executive Officer’s (XO) stateroom for our in-briefing. The XO said to me, “You are the first woman on this ship, and I’m putting you in Engineering because that’s the worst place I could put a female. You’ll set the tone for all the women who will follow you aboard this ship.”

My first thought was, “Lord, what will I do? You know I barely earned a D in my Intro. to Naval Engineering class!”

As we shoved off from the XO’s stateroom, he let fly one more zinger.

“By the way, I’m a ’79 grad,” he added, certain that I would recognize the significance of his remark. (The classes of 1979 were the last all-male classes at the Military, Naval, and Air Force academies.)

Since I couldn’t expect command support, nor could I rely on my own mental ability, I next headed to the Engineering officers’ space. I was greeted with the smell of a massive cloud of cigarette smoke, the sight of nude photos of women, and the sound of foul language. No sanctuary there.

Next, I looked to my division chief only to have him attempt to press himself upon me against the bulkhead.

As the acting “B” division officer (perhaps like you, I had no idea that the “B” stood for boiler engines), I fled to the belly of the ship where the boilers were located, not realizing that I had fled to what would become my stronghold.

According to the second definition in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a stronghold is “a protected place where the members of a military group stay and can defend themselves against attacks.”

I asked the sailors of “B Division” to share how the engines worked. Those 28 sailors taught me the basics of naval engineering.

The ship’s engine room was my stronghold – after peep holes were bored into my stateroom, while I sat ignored at every meal, and when I returned to the ship after a lonely time on liberty.

But beyond a physical stronghold, the Lord was my spiritual stronghold.

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps. 27:1)

Daily, I spent a few minutes reading a couple of verses and praying fervently.

The captain of the ship told me during my departure briefing that, unbeknownst to me, he’d been watching to see if I would “sink or swim.” He had been standing by to toss me a lifeline, only I hadn’t needed it.

I had clung, with all my limited strength and feeble knowledge, to the ultimate lifeline found in lashing myself to the Savior, Jesus Christ.

In Psalm 139, verses 7-10, God promised me – and you – that we would never out-distance Him.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

During any trial in military life, we can run to the stronghold of faith!