Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Vines (11/21/05)
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TITLE: Stems of Life | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kym Gordon Moore
11/28/05 -
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Everyone started shouting bits and pieces of their versions. “Wait a minute, wait a minute! Everyone can’t talk at once,” Ms. Jenkins advised. “I would like only one person, to answer the question in their own words. Do I have any volunteers?” Suddenly, bewildering expressions were on all of the children’s faces, as some looked up towards the sky, a few scratched their heads, while others looked down scattering clumps of dirt with their shoes. Finally, Suzie, her quietest and shyest student raised her hand. Ms. Jenkins looked pleased and said, “Well, looks like we have at least one person who is willing to give it a try.” The kids then turned around to see who she was speaking about. All eyes focused on Suzie, as she humbly bowed her head from the intimidating stares. “Go ahead Suzie and tell us what you think. Don’t worry about whether your answer is right or wrong ok?”
Suzie shook her head affirmatively, but choked a little after being put on the spot. “Well,” she cleared her throat and began speaking so softly that she was almost inaudible.
“Suzie, could you speak up a little bit sweetie? We would really love to hear what you have to say.”
“Yes ma’am. Well, it’s like…umm…it’s like when all of us are walking and holding on to a long rope so that we could stay close together.” She stopped and looked down again.
“Go ahead Suzie. You’re doing fine. Finish telling us your story,” Ms. Jenkins encouraged.
“Well, the rope is the main thing that keeps us together. It’s like a grapevine. Our arms are like branches that connect us to the rope. A bunch of us can hold on to it so we will be as one group. Sort of like a bunch of grapes. But if somebody turns the rope loose, then they are separated from the rest of us. That can be a very bad thing.”
“How so Suzie?”
“If one of us turns loose, then we could get lost or hurt, like a bruised grape. That’s why we are supposed to pay attention and not misbehave. We had to memorize a scripture in Sunday School and it goes like this: ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’ I think that was from John, the fifteenth chapter and verse five. You are kind of like our gardener Ms. Jenkins. You are responsible for us and that’s why it’s important for all of us to pay attention, because it helps us to grow. If we don’t, we could get left behind and be in big trouble. And if we get in trouble with you, then our parents will be upset with us once they find out. And God will be disappointed because we disobeyed you. Then we will be no different from those rotten grapes that you find lying on the ground that fell off of the vine.”
Everyone looked at Suzie totally dazed. This was the quietest Ms. Jenkins class has ever been. Suzie walked towards the School Activity Bus, picked up the rope that was lying on the ground, then one by one, her classmates grabbed a section of it and stood quietly in place. At this point Ms. Jenkins and all of the chaperones were at a lost for words. Did Suzie say something prophetic or did she just scare everyone to death?
“Oh my, that was a wonderful answer Suzie. So, are you saying that the vine is the lifeline of the grapes?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“My goodness. You certainly explained that better than I could have.” Ms. Jenkins looked around at all of the attentive faces. “Well kids, on that note lets remember everything she said, especially about the rotten grapes and go take that tour of the vineyards. OK?”
Amazingly, everyone remained obedient and extremely quiet.
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