JAC Online

The Vanity Fair 'style' Interviews
- Captain Amy Reardon

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Once I had a dream where I was at a party, and the guest of honor was Jesus. He sat on the couch telling stories and laughing, and I sat at his feet. I often revisit that dream in my mind, because in it I knew perfect happiness. Someday it will come true. Lord, haste the day!

What is your greatest fear?
As a Christian, I wouldn’t say I have any genuine fears because I trust God to redeem any situation. But perhaps my greatest concern is that one of my sons might make a bad marriage, and even end up in a divorce. I’ve been there, and yes, a person can survive. But I never want them to know that pain.

What living person do you most admire?
Nancy Cox (formerly Helms). Her constancy in her relationship with God despite the great adversity in her life has affected me more than I can say. When she was a young corps officer, her husband was killed by a drunk driver. She was left with 3 children – one of whom was just a few months old, one of whom was physically handicapped and deaf. She never blamed God for one moment and continued to serve him as an officer, even when further tragedy ensued in her life. She remarried this past summer, about 13 years after Drew’s death.

With which historical figure do you most identify?
Probably Phoebe Palmer, the 19th century American holiness teacher and social justice activist. I understand her journey. I just wish I could achieve the same results.

What is the trait you deplore most in others?
I think what bothers me most is unchecked sarcasm.

What is your greatest extravagance?
There isn’t much time, resource or desire for extravagance in my life! But, I do like really good cheese, and every once in a while I’ll buy some for no justifiable reason.

What is your favourite journey?
Actual journey? My two trips to Bermuda – though I wish my husband Rob had been there. There are other great ways I take journeys, however. I look at Rob’s pictures from his youth and imagine I knew him then. I read the journals I have been keeping since childhood, meeting myself at every age, and I see God’s faithfulness throughout my entire life. Finally, I love to watch period and/or location films and journey into another time/place – anything from “Pride and Prejudice” to “Indiana Jones.”

What do you consider the most over-rated virtue?
I don’t know if I’d call it a virtue exactly, but many people seem to think it is wonderful to be outgoing. I don’t think it’s so great. I’m very outgoing, and because of it I often wind up saying something stupid or otherwise embarrassing myself!

What talent would you most like to have?
I wish I could dance ballet. I wouldn’t ditch officership and join a company or anything, but I just wish I could express myself that way.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wish I were more productive.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
I don’t think there could be any more miserable human state than that of a child who does not feel loved and safe.

What is your most treasured possession?
When I was pregnant with my middle son Wes, my eldest, Kyle, was 8 years old. Knowing finances were tight, Kyle designed and hand sewed a diaper bag for me secretly, in his bedroom. He used fabric he’d had left over from making a beaver puppet for school; it was brown and furry. I found him just as he was finishing the bag, and we decided to sew over the hand stitching with a sewing machine. Later, at a baby shower, someone gave me a diaper bag. Kyle looked ashamed. He said, “I made you that diaper bag because I knew we didn’t have much money. I didn’t know someone was going to give you one.” But it was the brown furry bag that I adored and carried everywhere. I’ll keep it forever.

What is your most marked characteristic?
That’s a hard question, because it requires that I see myself from other people’s point of view. I’m often told that I come across as confident, so I guess that would be it. Not very noble, I suppose.

Who are your favourite writers?
Mostly I read non-fiction. I like Donald Bloesch, Clark Pinnock and Commissioner Phil Needham for theology. I really resonate with Frederick Buechner. My favorite fiction writer is 19th century author George MacDonald. He was also C.S. Lewis’s favorite fiction writer, so I guess I’m in good company! I don’t read MacDonald’s fantasy books, but his other books about country clergy and especially about a character named Gibbie. I learned a great deal about what it means to pastor people and love God through his books. Also, I am quite moved by the poetry of John Donne. C.S. Lewis is also a favourite.

Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
Sir Gibbie, George MacDonald’s character. His devotion to God is inspiring.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Commissioner Linda Bond, Lt. Colonel Marlene Chase, and Major Nancy Cox.

What is your motto?
I often recite a line from a song about holiness: “Victory or defeat, it’s up to me to decide.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am capable of turning my back on sin and submitting to God. The choice is mine.

 

 

 

   

 

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