Summer of 1969. The orientation at my new college was over and I
was headed back to the dorm. I was a stranger and alone in that Illinois farm
town, a displaced hippie from San Francisco. Peace, love and Jesus had been my
life for some time now and I felt out of place here. I toted a big leather,
fringed handbag that I’d made myself. I wore my combat boots under a long
paisley skirt. My hair was long, my legs and armpits unshaven and I was a
California flower child. But
no flowers for me on this day.
It was a sticky hot July and I was anxious to get back to the air
conditioning. A car pulled up as I walked along, “You want a ride?” I hesitated
at first but I was from San Francisco where hitchhiking was my norm for
transportation. I said, “Okay, thanks,” and got in. Big mistake.
As we drove toward the edge of town I said, “This isn’t the way to
the dorm.” And I panicked. There were three of them and I was in the back seat.
I quickly opened the door and tried desperately to get out. I scraped my boot
and twisted my leg trying to escape. One of them grabbed me and pulled me back
in. He threatened me and locked the door.
All I could see was corn fields. The car stopped. “Me first,” the
cocky one in the front said. He exchanged seats with the guy in the back and
raped me. Then the second one did the same. Frankly, the details are a blur.
Then it was the third guy’s turn.
I could feel his hesitation. The other two got out of the car and
I just started witnessing to the kid. I told him the Lord Jesus wouldn’t be too
happy with him if he went through with this. I told him God loved him and had
better things in mind for him. I told him enough about the Lord’s love and got
him born again right there.
Without touching me, he yelled out to his friends that he was
done. They got back in the car and he talked them into driving me back to town.
The cocky one threatened to find me and kill me if I ever told. I had to go
back to school there the very next month so I never told—I was too scared. The
nightmares came but I eventually healed.
When I look back, I wonder how I had the nerve to talk to a rapist
about my Lord Jesus. But it just happened and that night changed his life forever.
Fortunately for me, I didn’t get pregnant or have health or mental issues as a
result of the rape. I was just thankful to be alive.
But the most amazing thing to me was that in the midst of this
terrifying situation I got this young man born again. It was my fault for
getting into the car, but the Lord Jesus was with me and it was the mercy and
love of God that got me out and brought another lost soul with me to the Lord
Jesus Christ.
And if any of you three ever read this, I forgive you and pray
that today you are doing God’s will in your life. Or if not, I pray that you
will.
Love, Carolyn
I just read in
Ecclesiastes about how even the secret things get revealed: “a bird of the air
shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.” My book is
called WINGS. It
reveals the secret things God wants us to know to be able to live a more
victorious, joyful and fulfilling life. Use it as a devotional workbook or just
enjoy reading the true life stories that call to your heart.
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