I’ve been reading Cracking The Camouflage Ceiling by Chaplain (Colonel) Janet Yarlott Horton, US Army (Ret). Her powerful testimonies, beginning in 1976, are inspirational as the First C.S. woman chaplain applies Christian Science to break the gender barriers in the US Army Chaplaincy.
My favorite is about animals. While on a morning run at a retreat in the Arizona desert with the other men chaplains, she’d been praying to take her mind off the long run when she realized she was alone. Wondering where the guys went, she saw a hungry pack of coyotes that began to growl and circle her. When the lead dog moved in, the others would follow. Turning away from the scene before her, she prayed to hear God’s voice for this situation. What came to her, was get down and speak to the lead dog. So she got down on one knee. When she knelt, the lead coyote laid down. Then so did all the others and they became very attentive.
She began to “preach the gospel to every creature.” She began with Genesis, and how God created everything and behold it was very good. Also with the idea in S&H: “All of God’s creatures, moving in harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible” (514:28-30) She then told him he had a purpose, but it is not to harm her. And she had a purpose not to harm him. We need to be about our Father’s business, but it’s not here. “You need to go now.” She waved her hand upward and then pointed out to the desert. The lead coyote popped up and took off with the others trailing behind him. The men had seen them and hid…climbing trees, etc. They came out amazed by what they had seen. If she could preach to wild dogs and they’d listen, she probably could preach to soldiers, too. It took the edge off having a female among them.
The book is packed with practical applications. It encourages the reader to understand prayer and how God’s presence can bless and grace any challenge one may meet. Col Horton also details the events of September 11, 2001 while at the Pentagon, she was able to go with the rescue team to pray and bring peace to those in need.
The book is available at Hawthorne Publishing, 15601 Oak Road, Carmel, Indiana (317) 867-5183