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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: THE UGLY TOURIST (07/09/15)
Alighting from the tour bus, the man deeply inhaled the cold, blustery sea air. He welcomed the stinging sea salt upon his face and hands; a refreshing change from the stuffy air conditioning on board.

Receding from the noisy crowd on the viewing platform, his eyes drank in the rugged vista before him. This was the Twelve Apostles: one of Australia’s most iconic and most popular tourist destinations. Yet today, only eight, not twelve sandstone monoliths arise from the shallow waters near the beach. Eight individually carved sculptures, living testimonies to the hands that have shaped their beauty – time, wind and water.

Despite the driving southerly gale, the man crouched comfortably on a nearby rock. He admired two sea eagles soaring upward on thermals, keen eyes searching for a meal below. In an instant they plunged downwards into the white thrashing surf, arising with a prize. He closed his eyes, recording a picture of this awesome place. A photo etched in memory, etched on his heart. Then he began to wonder, to ponder, to give thanks. Beauty discovered around him, awakened beauty inside.

Wind wiping her hair, salt stinging her face, the woman pushed through the crowd on the viewing platform. Why had the bus driver stopped at this wretched, God-forsaken place? Her eyes scanned the landscape ahead. Rocks in the water. Wild foam tossed seas. Birds overhead. Endless dangerous cliffs. Had she come along almost 250 kilometers of hair bend curves to reach this? Disappointed, even angry, she raised her camera. Snap. Memory on film. A reminder to friends back home to not bother. She had been there, done that. Not worth it.

The driving wind pushed her back to the comfortable coach. She had taken no time, to ponder, to wonder - if only to wonder why she came. She had seen no beauty, only ugliness. And it made her feel the same inside.

Where do we find ourselves in this story? Are we savoring each moment, despite the hardship or difficulties we encounter? Or like the woman, do we rush on by snapping a brief encounter with the event, failing to engage fully in the moment: failing to wonder at the Father’s work in creation, failing to ponder our place in His world, our place with Him and with each other, failing to give thanks for His gifts that are ours to enjoy, to cherish and to protect.

We are each tourists journeying through this world. Traveling to another place. Let us be made beautiful through our experiences, rather than ugly. The Holy Scriptures exhort us to meditate upon what is good, lovely, excellent and praiseworthy. Can we stay in each event, each conversation? Linger long enough to discover beauty, to wonder, to ponder, to give thanks and be made beautiful in the moment.
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This article has been read 917 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
07/17/15
Your out-of-the-box take on the topic intrigued me. You did a nice job juxtaposing the two scenes. My only red ink was the transition from the first part to the second and to the conclusion was a bit sudden in my opinion. I can think of a few ways to resolve these POV twist. The most simple would be to have a line of stars separating the sections. A more complex way would be to perhaps have the two scenes play out in a video and have a teacher ask the class questions. These are just a couple of quick thoughts that I had. You did make your point loud and clear. I think you had a great beginning g, pulling the reader in. The ending makes the reader stop and think, which is all good.
Loni Bowden-Horn 
07/17/15
This is a beautifully written piece filled with imagery and imagination. It had a different angle.
C D Swanson 
07/17/15
Great job and approach to this weeks topic! I loved it.

God bless~
Rebecca Bithyah
07/22/15
Your piece has made me think about 'pausing'. well done.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
07/23/15
Congratulations on ranking 7th in your level. The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.