Foreword: Moli**** is a real person, but, for the protection of her privacy, I have modified her name, so that she remains anonymous. If she ever gets to read this, and I hope that she does, (because she deserves the honor), she will, no doubt, recognize herself in the words of this post.

US Navy Boot Camp, Great Lakes, Chicago April 1996… Recreational communication is forbidden during meals. The rules are strict. There is no speaking. One eats in silence, finishes one’s food and returns to training within the strict confines of one’s division. However, there are things which cannot but be acknowledged and are determined to ascend beyond bounds, such as when Beauty’s mystery reveals herself without regard for taboo’s strictures. When she shows herself as pre-existent, and paramount and ancient but not stale. Naked, but not ashamed, bold but not brazen. And so she did for me during one dinner.

Was it a scent, or some sixth sense? Airman Apprentice Moli***’s attentions and mine responded to a some silent signal. Synchronously, we were drawn from our food and the ravening of our exercise induced appetites to acknowledge each the other’s presence, then to engage in silent dialogue across the expanse – the width of two six foot folding tables.

Her hair, cropped short, conveyed a vague masculinity, but was dark and rich. Her frame, was more substantial than I would have considered attractive and caused me surprise, for I could not understand how she might have passed her medical and physical selection board. Nevertheless, her eyes, ardent with green fire held my gaze: challenging, yet filled with an implicit respect. Something passed between us – a transaction of the soul as we regarded each other as if we had always been acquainted, like déjà vu. “You are a queen,” I thought. “A woman of substance from some foreign land. There is greatness in you. I honor you.” We smiled with mutual affirmation, and for a fleeting moment it seemed to me that time had turned back on itself.

Pensacola Airport, approximately five months later… We met again.

I strode over to her, “Good heavens! Look, it’s you.”

Her eyes flickered with instant recognition, twin green flames igniting, “Why look, if it ain’t you!”

My heart beat, urgently, as if aware that time was short. It has been said that opportunity knocks but once in a lifetime, and it was knocking loudly.

“You’ve been promoted!”

“And so have you, ” she replied, with the most reassuringly sincere and confident smile.

“What happened to you, since Boot Camp,” I asked, “You’ve lost like, what, thirty pounds?”

“Yep. Aircrew School did that to me – all the exercise, you know.”

“O my gosh, you are in such amazing shape!”

“Thank you.”

“What were you thinking all those months ago, when we caught each other’s gaze, Airman?” I asked.

“That’s a question I’ve been longing to ask you myself.” she replied.

“Look, could I buy you a coffee, no strings attached?” I ventured.

“Oh, I’d love that, but my flight departs shortly, and I’ll have to leave for my gate in about five minutes. Let’s just chat.”

“Ok then, here goes. Moli****, I wanted you to know that you have a greatness about you, it isn’t just that you have some of the most beautiful eyes that I’ve ever seen, but what radiates from them that made me long to walk up and salute you, from the very first moment our eyes met. You have nobility woven through your entire demeanour, and you honored me with your smile of recognition and silent conversation all those months ago, when we were so far from home, and missing our loved ones. It was as if you were saying, ‘Hang in there, and all will be well.’ Please tell me what it is that you aim to do with your life. What is your dream?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but I think perhaps something in politics, I don’t know, I just want to make a difference.” She said with a pensive curl of her upper lip.

“Oh, and you shall. It is written upon you, Moli****,” I breathed, thinking, Please let there be enough time to finish this… "The instant I saw you, I knew that you were called to a place of uncommon influence, and you shall go there, if you will but follow your dream. You have a presence about you, almost surreal, and powerful, and I would recognize you any time and anywhere. You are captivating.”

“That is so bizarre, she replied, because you’ve just described pretty much exactly how I feel about you. I knew it as soon as I saw you. It was if we could read each other’s minds, as if we’d met before – like déjà vu, you know. There is something very special about you… Oh, and there goes the announcement - they're boarding at my gate.”

I wanted to cry. I was being pierced by some strange anguish, for which I could not find adequate description.

I offered my hand by way of good bye, but instead of taking it, she embraced me, and I found myself kissing her cheek as nobly as I could, with ardent chasteness, and she reciprocating.

“Good bye Moli****. I know, I can’t explain it, but I feel as if we might just cross paths again.”

“I think so too,” she replied. “I am almost sure of it. I hope so. Bye.”

“You are powerful Moli****, and you are beautiful.”

“Thank you. So are you… So are you.”


Thank you to all the Moli’s on this Earth: for reflecting the loveliness of God and for radiating your incomprehensibly beautiful feminine strength. You help me to see more of God's beauty and the serene side of His strength at every encounter. I long to see that your honor be restored to its rightful place, and that the respect you have, for so long been robbed of, be returned to you. When God burns men’s hearts with fire – the fire he lit in your eyes.

Perhaps, then, men will stand and cherish you - with all their souls protect your names, your bodies and your hearts with their lives, from all the ravishings that a broken, twisted world has dealt you, and love as Jesus Christ has shown us to do. God bless you!

I love you Moli****