I'd Rather Live Longer

Although I would have preferred to immediately enter the theological department of the University of Utrecht, I could not. Due to the pressure and the horrible tension of the war I had to switch schools and consequently give up on the studies of Greek and Latin. I had to redo these two classical languages and pass an examination before being able to enter the University. I decided to take private lessons in both classical languages. Luckily one of my friends, who also had switched from the Marnix Gymnasium to the Christian Hogere Burger School in Rotterdam, made the same decision, so we studied together for some time.

My friend, who belonged to the Reformed Church, was planning to attend the Theological School in Kampen. This denomination had split itself off from the Netherlands Reformed Church in the 1830's. We went together to church. On Sunday morning we went to the Netherlands Reformed Church and in the evening to the Reformed Church. The next week we turned it around. However, one Sunday in late April 1946 we went to the Reformed Church expecting Pastor Vonk to lead in worship. Instead another minister was there. When this minister went into the pulpit, half the congregation got up and left the church. My friend said, "I am leaving too!" What had happened? The Synod of the Reformed Church had defrocked Pastor Vonk as he and other pastors had written to the headquarters complaining that the Reformed Church had become too liberal. The Synod of the Reformed Church answered these complaints by closing the pulpits to Pastor Vonk and others. It was a sad situation, especially since this took place just after the war. There was no unity in the Reformed Church, so the pastors who left formed the "Liberated Reformed Church," which later became a strong denomination.

During the few years of study and preparation for the so-called State's Examination in Latin and Greek I succeeded in pre-registering at the University. A certain group within the Netherlands Reformed Church offered me a good scholarship. However, if I did not follow this group's doctrines and dogmas during my ministry I had to pay back the entire scholarship. No matter how difficult it was, I had to turn down that offer, because I could not convince myself that this group (for which I had great respect) could guide and direct the Holy Spirit in my life and my development. To me it was more important to obey the Holy Spirit and His directions than to obey this group.

Yes, the year 1946 was important, as I not only received my business administration diploma, but also professed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and allowed Him to be King of my life. However there was something else.

On August 14, 1946, our church was going on an one day boat ride to a famous zoo in the middle of the Netherlands. The group would leave at six in the morning. A specially reserved streetcar would bring the people from Schiedam to the harbor of Rotterdam. Although my outgoing mother was looking forward to that trip (she was always ready for any trip), my father was holding back. He didn't make friends easily. It all meant that if they didn't go, I would not go either. I still felt uncomfortable with myself, even though in more than a year my weight had gone up to one hundred and thirty pounds.

However, on the evening before the trip our pastor, Dr. W.C. van Unnik, came to our house and asked my father and me to be co-leaders, because two people had fallen ill. I loved this minister very much. I was more than willing to go and my father gave in too! That meant that we had to be at the harbor in Rotterdam not later than six o'clock in the morning to become familiar with the boat. We expected a group of about seventy people.

My father and I left for Rotterdam, while my mother, my grandmother and youngest sister would come with the specially reserved streetcar. After everything was looked over, we got our instructions. We were to start sailing not later than seven thirty. I was to help the ladies out of the streetcar and onto the boat. Not a bad assignment! Then during the trip I was to be in touch with the people to see that they had a good time and were comfortable. Not a bad way to get over my self-imposed shyness.

At about seven o'clock the streetcar arrived and I was at my post. I helped as many people off the streetcar as I could. However there was one young lady, who jumped out of the streetcar straight onto my toes. That was just one of those things! I took a good look at her, but she kept on going. Soon the boat was filled, and we were ready to go upstream toward the zoo in Rhenen. The boat ride on the "Willem III" would take less than three hours.

I was busy with my duties seeing to it that everybody was comfortable, when suddenly I saw the young lady who had stepped on my toes. I felt attracted to her and I knew that something was happening to me. I had never experienced that feeling before. O yes, I had friends who were young ladies, but we either studied together, played games or rehearsed some small skits for school parties. That was about all! However, this time it was different. Finally, I discovered that I had fallen in love… at first sight. And that for a young man who had said a few days before he was not going to fall in love or to get married before the age of thirty.