A TRUE STORY . . .

As related by Dr. David Augsburger

Mount Herman, 1992 Pastor’s Conference

        Integrity is that quality of living that is personified in this true story about Lt. John Blanchard, a young soldier in basic training in Florida during World War II. One evening he wandered into the Army library and found a book to read. As he worked his way through the book he became impressed, not with the content of the book, so much as with the notes penciled in the margins – the feminine handwriting showed insight and understanding as well as a touch of tenderness. He flipped to the front of the book and found the name of the previous owner – a Miss Hollis Maynell.

        Blanchard did some research and found out her address was up in New York. He wrote a letter to her and the next day he was shipped overseas. For 15 months the two of them corresponded by letter and during that time, they began to open their hearts to each other. It soon became apparent that they were falling in love with each other. One time he asked her to send him a picture, but she refused – saying, if he really loved her it really wouldn’t matter what she looked like.

        Finally, the day came when they were to meet. They arranged to meet each other in Grand Central Station in New York at 7:00 P. M. on that particular night. She told him, “You’ll recognize me by the red rose that I’ll be wearing on my lapel.”  At a minute to 7:00 the soldier straightened his uniform as people walked toward him, his heart pumping with anxiety and anticipation for this long-awaited meeting.

From here on, let me describe what

happened in his own words:

“A young woman was coming toward me – her figure was long and slim, her blond hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears, her eyes were blue as flowers, her lips and chin had a gentle firmness – in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. And as I moved in her direction, a small provocative smile curved her lips: ‘Going my way, soldier?’ she murmured. Almost uncontrollably I made another step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell.

        “She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past forty, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick ankled feet were thrust into low-heeled shoes. But she wore a red rose on the rumpled brown lapel of her coat. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was being split in two; so keen was my desire to follow her and yet so deep was my longing for the woman who’s spirit had truly companioned me and upheld me during those months overseas.

        “And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book, which was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious – something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful.

        “I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. I’m Lt. John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me here; may I take you to dinner? The woman’s face broadened in a tolerant smile, ‘I don’t know what this is all about’ she answered, ‘but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test.’”

        Lt. Blanchard passed the test. Would you? My guess is that John and Hollis lived happily ever after – all because of the insistence on integrity. May we as members of the body of Christ, likewise pass the test, as we demonstrate integrity in our lives and our witness.