People from all over the world filled the corridors of the cruise ship. My husband, Dale, and I caught snippets of French, German and even Chinese. We were a long way from our quiet life in rural Montana.
Sailing along the Alaskan coast was like a dream, and there were so many things to do: eat delicious food, swim in the pool, relax at the spa. First Dale and I headed to a Bible study. “This ship really has it all,” Dale said. “We can do anything!”
Almost anything, I told myself. But I couldn’t stop thinking about my secret dream: to sing on a cruise ship. I had asked our cruise coordinator about it just after we’d booked our trip.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” she asked.
“I’d love to sing on the ship!” I blurted out. She must have thought I was crazy. Back when Dale and I went on our first cruise, the music made me want to sing onboard, to share the joy I got from singing about God with others.
But only professionals sang on cruises. I thought I’d forgotten the idea completely—until the words popped out of my mouth.
“I’ll look into it,” she said cheerfully. I was put in touch with a few cruise representatives, but I never heard anything after I arrived onboard. Dale and I took our seats in the Bible study.
We greeted the other passengers, and the pastor read some Scripture to get things started. Then he opened the floor to anyone who wished to contribute. Dale raised his hand. “My wife has a song she’d like to sing,” he announced. I nearly fell off my seat.
The pastor nodded permission. The other passengers looked at me expectantly. This is what you wanted, I thought. Could I just start singing right then and there?
I stood up, my heart pounding. Dale squeezed my hand. “We’re pilgrims on a journey… on a narrow road…” I sang. The group applauded as I finished the final note. I did it, I thought. Thank you, God, for giving me my dream! I sat back down.
I’d barely touched the chair when someone called out, “Sing another one!” Everyone agreed. “Go on, hon,” said Dale. I sang two more gospel songs before we adjourned. What a day! What a trip!
The next afternoon, Dale and I were walking to our room when I heard my name. I spun around. It was a woman from the Bible study. “Won’t you sing something for me?”
Why not? I sang right there in the hallway. Heads turned toward me. One man nodded to my words. A woman smiled as she passed. “They weren’t even from the Bible study,” I said to Dale when I finished.
We continued to our room. But we didn’t make it far. Another couple stopped us. “You have a great gift,” the wife said. “Care to share it again?”
We sailed on, up the Alaskan Panhandle. Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway. And all the way, people kept asking me to sing. One evening, as Dale and I were leaving the dining room, a family called to me from their table, asking for a song. Dale laughed—he’d gotten used to it by now.
I started a hymn. As I went into the chorus, waiters stopped serving to listen, trays in hand. All of the attention had turned to me.
I finished the song to a ripple of applause. I felt honored, but not because the other passengers liked my voice. I was exhilarated by what God had done for me. We all have dreams. When those dreams come from God, they really do come true.
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