Category: Stories that Inspire Turning Points

When Carol and I planned our vacation for the summer of 1985 we decided to spend the first week in Puerto Vallarta and the second week in Cancun. We had been vacationing for the previous four years in Cancun and I wanted to introduce Randy to fishing for Dorado. One of the attractions for choosing Puerto Vallarta as our destination was its location on the Pacific coast of Mexico and their year round Dorado fishing season.

After weeks of preparation, the Saturday of our trip dawned. Our carry-on baggage and fishing gear was loaded into a friend’s car and off to Tijuana airport we went. For the first time we were flying Mexican airlines for this trip.

When we arrived at the airport we bid goodbye to our friend and got on line for check-in. We waited patiently amidst the other travelers comprised of a diverse mixture of native Mexicans and American tourists. The time for the flight came and went. Everyone wondered what happened as to why none of us were processed for checked in. Soon we learned that the flight was cancelled and the next flight to Puerto Vallarta would be Sunday at eight in the morning.

With no other choice but to return home till the next morning, we rented a car and went back home for the night.

I didn’t trust the information we got, so I set the alarm for five in the morning.

At the sound of the alarm, I roused Carol and Randy, repacked the rental car and headed back to the Tijuana airport. With little traffic that early on a Sunday morning, we made it to the airport in a little more than half an hour.

I returned the car and we walked into the airport lugging our six carry-on bags at a quarter to six. A man wearing what appeared to be an official airline uniform asked if we were going to Puerto Vallarta.

I replied, “Yes.”

Somewhat agitated, he told us to hurry and run as he pointed the way.

“Run to the gate! Your plane leaves in ten minutes,” he said.

We raced down the corridor to the gate, handed over our tickets and scrambled onto the plane. We were surprised to find three seats together and room for all our carry-on bags near the front of the plane. I was thankful for my thoughts the night before that got us up so early because the original time we were given for the flight was two hours later. I wondered about all our fellow travelers from the day before and what they would find when they returned to the airport at eight that morning. Would they miss yet another flight?

As soon as we were seated, the door was closed and we were advised to buckle up and get ready for take-off. Finally we were on our way to Puerto Vallarta, a little stressed but thankful we made the flight on time.

As soon as we were airborne, my thoughts returned to anticipating the two weeks of vacation ahead of us. The flight was uneventful and we arrived early morning in Puerto Vallarta. A taxi ferried us to our resort where we checked in. We went to our room and quickly unpacked. Once we donned our bathing suits we immediately took advantage of the beautiful hot humid weather at the resort. We spent the first half hour exploring the grounds and amenities together as a family. It didn’t take long for Randy to ask me to accompany him in his quest to find a fishing spot.

While Carol found a comfortable lounge chair at the pool, Randy and I set out to explore the area in search for fishing opportunities. We soon found that the main marina was just a short walk from the resort. The marina offered Randy ample space to fish from the docks, but he was not going to catch any Dorado there. It was going to take a hired boat to reach the fishing grounds that would yield the fighting Dorado.

One of the most sought after saltwater fish that avid fishermen hope to catch at least once in their life is the Dolphin fish, also known as Mahi-Mahi and Dorado. The attraction to this fish aside from its vivid colors and unusual shape is its extraordinary fight. Mahi-Mahi means ‘Very Strong” in Hawaiian. The name is apropos because it’s a voracious fighter when hooked in spite of its size. Dorado will break water leaping, thrashing and dancing six feet above the surface of the water. The battle experienced by the angler is exciting and thrilling especially for a young boy. Randy being an avid fisherman, I wanted him to experience the thrill of catching a Dorado.

We returned to the resort where Randy gathered his fishing gear and off we went back to the marina. This became Randy’s daily venture walking the few short blocks from our resort to the boat marina. There he fished till he had to come back for lunch and dinner.

Each day I joined Randy at the marina. I left Carol to sunbathe at the beach or pool. On the second day, I walked down the dock and found some fishing boats for charter. I inquired as to the cost of a fishing trip into the Pacific specifically for Dorado. I was told it was $300 for the day. This was a little outside our budget so I was quite disappointed. I hoped that maybe something would present itself to allow Randy to get his shot at landing a Dorado.

Later that day a man strolled down the docks with his two boys. He stopped and asked me if I knew where he could charter a fishing boat. He too wanted to take his two boys out for a day of fishing. I directed him to the people who gave me the $300 quote. Soon he returned, and offered up a plan to take the boys out fishing and split the cost of the charter. I agreed and we set a date for the following morning.

The next morning the five of us arrived at the marina. We agreed that the boys would do all the fishing. The older of the two boys was Randy’s age and the two immediately got acquainted. The younger lad was a bit shy, but soon the three of them were talking fishing with an air of excited anticipation in their voices.

After the deckhands completed their preparations we left the dock and headed out to sea. After about forty-five minutes we were in the ocean. The swells caused the boat to rock considerably. The rocking of the boat as it negotiated the swells did not affect Randy since he had a lot of experience with ocean fishing. But apparently the other boys were not used to this and promptly became sea sick. They found a place where they could lay down in obvious misery.

The boat slowed down to trolling speed and the deckhand began to bait the hooks on two trolling rigs. Once the rigs were in the water, the real waiting began. We agreed before we left the dock that the boys would rotate taking in the catch. The older of the two boys would take the first hook-up, Randy the second and the youngest boy the third.

A few minutes into the initial troll there was a hook-up. But the older boy was too sick so Randy took the fighting chair as the deckhand handed him the rod. Randy caught the first fish. It was a real fighter, like nothing Randy had ever landed before. It jumped and danced on the water, flailing and flashing its brilliant green and blue colors in the sunlight. The deckhand kept near Randy, coaching him to keep the line taut.

Each time Randy was able to reel in a few yards of line, the fish would break water and pull out more line against the drag of the reel. Back and forth went the battle between Randy and the fighting Dorado. As he fought against the powerful fish, I got my camera and caught Randy’s thrill and excitement beaming from his face.

After Randy landed that first fish, the deckhand once more baited the lines and began the troll again. Each time there was a hook-up the other two boys were given a chance to bring one in, but time after time they were so sea sick they relinquished their turn to Randy. They were just too miserable to take the rod. So Randy caught the second, third and fourth fish.

After a while there was another hook-up and they were giving the rod to Randy again when he went over and encouraged the older boy to take it instead. Reluctantly he got up and hopped in the chair and fought the fish till it was landed. That was the only fish he caught all day. The younger boy was just too sick, so after Randy landed a another Dorado, we headed back to the docks early.

It was thrilling watching Randy’s sheer delight fighting the Dorado. More importantly was the sense of pride I felt for Randy as I watched him encouraging the other boy to fight through his misery and experience the thrill of landing this fighting fish.

Turning Points

This experience revealed a number of turning points. Firstly, I felt bound by a financial limitation. The appearance of a stranger with a financial solution taught me that sometimes our perceived obstacles are merely “obstacle illusions”.  Solutions can be just “around the corner”.  I acknowledge and am grateful that God brought that stranger to our rescue and made the experience possible.

Secondly, Randy revealed how boldly acting on one’s compassion for others can bring that someone a hoped for joy that appeared to be impossible.  Sacrifice for others is a part of our character that enhances our own experiences as well as that of others. Randy’s active compassion for his new found friends surely touched them as it did Randy and me.

COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN E. MUSTERER

It was late afternoon on a Wednesday. I was sitting in my family room about to watch the early evening news. Carol was busy in the kitchen getting dinner prepared when the phone rang.

It was dear friend Matt, a USMC helicopter pilot. He was quite agitated and said, “Allan, I need you to tell me what to do!”

I asked him, “What is going on Matt that you need me?”

He said, “You recall that a few weeks ago I told you that my best friend, a helicopter pilot, was killed while working as a Forward Air Controller with 7th Marines.”

I replied, “Yes I do Matt, I remember you even gave me his name and I have been praying for him and his family ever since. What is happening now?”

Matt explained, “Well today my battalion commanding officer informed me that the Division is seeking a replacement for him and are canvassing all of the Forward Air Controllers to replace him.”

Matt was perplexed and wanted to volunteer for the Afghanistan tour and complete his friend’s mission.

Matt said, “I want to go and honor my friend, but my wife doesn’t want me to go. What should I do?”

I met Matt some years before my retirement as an evangelist in the New Apostolic Church. Matt had met a young lady who was a member of our church in Germany. They met while Matt was stationed in Florida. They fell in love and were married just about the time Matt was stationed at Miramar Marine Corp Air Station in the northern part of San Diego.

Matt and his bride Stef attended Sunday morning services regularly for years in our church in El Cajon where I often served. Matt and I “clicked” and with mutual respect we became good friends. Matt’s deployments overseas often put him in harm’s way, so many investments of prayers and support deepened our relationship.

Consequently, it was not surprising that Matt would call me that Wednesday afternoon when he was facing a real dilemma with the issues at hand. Obviously there was turmoil in his heart as well has his wife’s.

I said, “Matt, your desire to volunteer to honor your friend is noble, courageous and honorable. I respect you for that desire and the willingness to make that sacrifice. But you must also honor your wife and her desires. You and Stef must first come to full agreement as to this decision. I am sorry, but I cannot tell you what to do. However, I will tell you what I would do. This evening is a divine service in El Cajon. I would pray and ask God to provide me with the right answer in the service tonight. I would place this situation in the Lord’s hands and see what His word would be for me as it comes from the servant who knows nothing of my situation. That is what I would do.”

Matt replied, “Stef and I will discuss this and decide what to do.” He thanked me and we hung up the phone.

Now Matt and Stef did not normally attend services on Wednesdays. Stef had been attending school and Matt’s schedule usually didn’t allow regular midweek freedom. With this in mind I prayed for them and their situation. In my prayer I asked God to please provide a clear direction for them through the words of the sermon. I also asked that should they not attend the service for whatever reason; please give me their answer so I could convey it to them afterward.

I went to the kitchen and asked Carol to pray with me as I wanted to again seek God’s blessing on Matt’s situation and the decision he had to make. After dinner, Carol and I left for service in El Cajon.

As I sat in the pew, I kept wondering if Matt and Stef would make to service. I mightily resisted turning around to see if they had come. As I awaited the start of the service, I reiterated my pleas to God for an answer.

The service began and I was excited to see that our district elder was conducting the service. He had just recently been assigned to serve our congregation and as yet really did not know every one of the members, particularly Matt and Stef.

As the service progressed, I heard a word that caused great excitement in my soul. It was a simple word, but precisely focused on the situation that Matt was facing. I so hoped that they had made it to the service. When it came time for Holy Communion, I noticed that they had both made it to service. Now my excitement was really elevated.

When the service concluded, I made a beeline to Matt and Stef and said, “Wow! Wasn’t that an extraordinary sermon?”

Their faces didn’t reflect my excitement as Matt replied, “It was a wonderful sermon, but we didn’t hear an answer. Can you talk with us?”

I said, “Of course, let’s go into the Mother’s Room for privacy.”

We entered the Mother’s Room and closed the door.

I said, “What I received from the sermon relative to your decision is this: If you are faced with a critical decision and it seems like there is no easy solution as to which way to turn, place it God’s hands through a fervent prayer. Then make the best decision you can and if it is the right decision, God will support it and all will be well. But if it is the wrong decision, God will change things and all will be well.”

Emotionally they asked me, “Will you pray with us?”

I said, “No, you have our district elder here, you should have him pray with you.”

We all agreed and just as we exited the Mother’s Room, the district elder opened the Sacristy door. I introduced Matt and Stef to him and asked him to pray with them. The three of them entered the sacristy and closed the door.

My purpose in refusing to pray with them was to take myself out of this situation and place it solely in God’s hands. Since the district elder had no knowledge of what had happened in the previous hours, his prayer and what would follow would be completely in the purview of God.

They soon exited the sacristy and Matt raced outside. Unknown to me, Matt had committed to his commander that he would give an answer by nine o’clock that evening. It was about eight-fifty when they exited the sacristy; hence his speedy exit from the church so he could phone his commander. Stef came over to me and I asked her what they decided.

Stef said, “We decided he will volunteer.”

I asked, “And you are okay with that?”

She said, “After our understanding and the prayer with the district elder, we know it is in God’s hands, and He will insure all goes well.”

The next day in the early afternoon, my phone rang once again. It was Matt.

“Allan, just like you said, just like you said!” Matt spoke excitedly into the phone.

“”What has happened Matt?” I replied.

“I just left my commanding officer’s office,” Matt said, “and he thanked me for volunteering to finish my friend’s tour in Afghanistan. Then he said that they made a different decision on the matter.”

I was thrilled and quietly offered up a prayer of thanksgiving.

Matt concluded, “Just like you said! We put it into His hands and He changed it!”

Reflecting on this blessing, one can see that Matt found favor for courageously volunteering, but God insured that His will and blessing prevailed and Stef’s desire was also fulfilled.

Turning Point

This experience taught me many things, but the most profound realization was that God brings us into and through some unique learning experiences and thus prepares us to be a blessing to someone in the future. This experience prepared me to show two very special people in my life the principles learned here and help them make their decisions with God’s blessings.

COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN E. MUSTERER

It was early 1966 when I was assigned to a power plant nestled on the banks of the Hudson River in Orange County New York. I was on the tail end of the of a nine month training program that began in June 1965 and had taken me to plants in Pasadena, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The plant was a coal fired power plant designed and built by my employer Foster Wheeler Corporation.

The company designed and built the coal pulverizers, coal delivery systems and steam boilers. On this job the systems and equipment were in their final phases of completion prior to being turned over to the client utility company.

A Typical Central Station Coal-fired Power Plant

When I arrived at the plant I was introduced to Pete, the senior service engineer who was managing the project. There were four other service engineers on the job as well.

As an introduction to the job, Pete took me on a tour of the plant.

In the basement were two large horizontal steel drums filled almost half way with thousands of steel balls. Coal was conveyed into the two ends of the drums by a screw conveyor. As these drums turned, the coal was pulverized into a fine powder by the action of the balls. Also coming into the two ends of the drums was heated air. The hot air picked up the coal dust and conveyed it to the coal burners located in the side of the boiler two stories above.

On the main deck of the plant were the steam turbines and generators. From this deck access to the burner deck was manifest. The burner deck accessed the eight coal burners that were arranged in two banks of four each. In the center of each burner was a long tube that conveyed atomized oil that served as an ignition source for the coal dust that came from the coal pulverizers two stories below. Opposite the burners on the burner deck was a large electrical panel that controlled the automatic ignition system for the oil igniters.

As we worked our way up the side of the ten story boiler I was introduced to a mass of equipment and accoutrements to the boiler. At each level, there were ports in the boiler wall that allowed visual inspection of the boiler internals. Finally at the top of the structure we entered the access area around the boiler drum where the steam produced in the boiler tubes was dried, processed and sent to the steam turbines below. The turbines energized by the high pressure steam turned large electric generator that produced the electric power for the utility customers.

Pete and I returned to the company trailer office where Pete introduced me to the rest of the team. They were all engineers, most of them having served in the merchant marines. All of them were two to four years my senior. Initially I was given some assignments that required me to work together with them, thus building rapport and solidifying the team. We did things like set up instrumentation, test and verify that equipment was properly installed and working per specification.

One morning after we finished our morning coffee and discussed the work plan for the day, Pete grabbed a drawing from the stack that lay on the drafting table in the trailer office. He rolled it up put it under his arm and headed for the door.

Pete turned and called to me, “Allan, come with me. I have a job for you.”

We walked to the turbine deck of the plant and up the stairs to the burner deck. He opened the large doors to the electrical panel that housed the control electronics for the automatic coal burner ignition system.

Pete handed me the drawing and said, “This system doesn’t work; fix it.”

As he turned and walked away, a sense of dread came over me like a thick black cloud. I stood shocked for a few minutes trying to collect my thoughts. Finally I sat on a wooden crate, put my head in my hands and wondered what I was going to do. Ever since I could remember, electronics and anything electrical proved to be my biggest weakness, my Achilles heel so to speak.

Suddenly, I heard the voice of my Electronics 101 professor, Dr. Brown, speaking in his thick German accent, “Allan, someday you will regret not applying a greater effort in my classes. Your grades should be much better that this exam shows!”

My thoughts at that time were, “Professor, with all due respect, I do not like electronics or anything electrical!”

Now it hit me. My failures to apply myself during my college days had at last caught up with me. I found myself at my wits end. So I quietly summoned my God and prayed for help and mercy. No sooner did I say my “Amen” and a thought popped into my head. I remembered what my high school math teacher, Mr. Hubiak, had always preached to us, “When you are faced with a problem that overwhelms you, start with basic principles.”

So I stood up, the panel drawing in hand and grabbed a roll of masking tape. I opened the drawing and taped it on the open door of the electrical panel. Then I systematically went through the drawing identifying each component and verified that it was on the panel and in the right location. Almost immediately I discovered something. There was a pattern of identical components on the drawing that revealed itself.

There were eight banks comprised of two rows each of large relays. The left hand row of each bank had the letter “A” after the part number and the right hand row had the letter “B” after the part number.  Each row had six relays. When I now looked at the panel, I found that all ninety-six relays had the “A” designation and not one relay had the “B” designation. Now I looked further to determine what made these two relays different.

The relays had a clear plastic cover so you could see the electrical contacts within. I noticed from the drawing that the electrical contacts in the “A” and “B” versions simply had the “normal open” and “normal closed” contacts reversed.
It became clear that one and hopefully the only problem was the lack of “B” relays. I searched the drawing and found the relay specification and manufacturer. Returning to the trailer office, I phoned the manufacturer. I explained the product with the product with the relay part number and asked for a local distributor. They gave me the nearest distributor’s address and phone number.

I called, introduced myself to the distributor and asked, “Do you carry these relays?” and gave him the part number.

He said, “Yes we do, but we do not have any of the “A” versions in stock.”

I replied, “Well, I have what may sound like a strange request. I have forty-eight of the “A” version relays that I would like to swap for forty-eight of the “B” version.”

Then I got an unexpected response. The gentleman said, “Who are you, really? Is this some kind of joke?”

I said, “No, this is no joke, I am serious. What makes you think it’s a joke?”

“I have a client that has been waiting for weeks to get “A” versions of this very relay. Your proposal seems incredulous. It’s just what I need! I can’t believe it!” he said.

I asked, “Well can I bring the forty-eight “A” relays for the swap?”

He replied, “How soon can you get here?”

I told him I would be there in half an hour. I rounded up a cardboard carton and when to the control panel. Carefully I extracted the “A” relays that were in the sockets that would house the “B” relays. I packed them up and headed to the supplier.

When I arrived, the man I had spoken to on the phone was ecstatic when he saw that I really had the relays and it was not a joke. That fact being confirmed, he immediately called his customer to tell him the good news. Then he retrieved my forty-eight “B” relays and profusely thanked me again.

Now excitement was building in me as I saw the potential success I was about to experience. I returned to the plant and went directly to the burner deck. I inserted the “B” relays into their proper sockets. I stood back and turned the system on. The whole panel lite up like a Christmas tree. I ran the diagnostics test and everything checked out.

I silently offered up my prayer of praise and thanksgiving and headed to the trailer, the drawing rolled up and under my arm and a smile on my face. Proudly I announce to Pete that the system was up and running. Pete’s delight was evident in the grin that burst from his face and a hearty pat on my back.

Unknown to me at the time, the senior vice president was watching me from the sidelines. Apparently Pete was asked to keep him informed as to my performance. This must have been a significant test that I passed with flying colors as evidenced by what happened a few weeks later. [See the story entitled “I Want You To Manage This Project”]

Turning Point

This was a very interesting turning point for me. As I reflected on this experience, I realized that when we ask God for His help, He doesn’t always give us what we want, but He gives us something. That “something” is a clue that leads us to a solution to the original problem we faced. God uses the resources we accumulate from our experiences and resurrects them from our personal “well” to reveal solutions at the precise moment we need them. This develops a deep appreciation for what He is willing to do for those who trust Him and ask Him.

COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN E. MUSTERER