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Topic: Start (01/16/06)
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TITLE: On Bended Knee | Previous Challenge Entry
By Carla Feagans
01/21/06 -
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“Celia, what happened?” Molly asked incredulously, concern furrowing her brow. “You were fine yesterday when I talked to you.”
“I wasn’t fine, I was pretending,” Celia exclaimed. “I’m always pretending. My life is a mess and it has been for a while, I just never let anyone see it.”
“Not even me?” Molly asked quietly, hurt despite her concern for Celia. “I thought we were friends.”
Celia sighed as she sank back into the cushions of Molly’s couch. The giant cushions engulfed her until she almost disappeared into them. Readjusting herself to a sturdier spot, she grabbed the tissue Molly was holding out to her and blew her nose loudly.
“It’s not you, it’s me,” Celia told her. “Really,” she insisted as she saw the look on Molly’s face. “This is what I always do. I try to make everyone, including myself, believe that my life is wonderful and perfect even when it’s not. Especially when it’s not.”
Molly sat down and put her arm around Celia. “Tell me about it,” she said gently.
“Oh, Molly, I don’t even know where to start,” Celia took a deep breath. “My basement flooded and my garage door is broken. I’ve got so many deadlines at work, there’s no way I can get it all done, let alone deal with all this house stuff. Cody’s teacher called and he’s in trouble at school – again – plus he’s flunking math. Jack has been traveling more than ever for work, and I’m almost positive he’s having an affair.”
Celia sobbed as Molly held her.
As Celia’s sobs turned to sniffles, Molly gave her a squeeze, then stood and walked to the bookshelf. She picked up her Bible and sat back down, this time facing Celia. “I know we don’t normally talk about this stuff,” Molly said tentatively, looking Celia straight in the eye, “but this is where I turn when my heart is heavy and I don’t know where to even begin dealing with things. Let me read you something, is that okay?”
“Sure, I guess,” Celia said, a little dubiously.
Molly flipped quickly through the well-worn pages. “Here it is,” she announced. “Okay, one of the most helpful verses I have found is Psalm 62:8 – ‘Trust in Him at all times; O People; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.’”
“So, you’re saying I’m just supposed to talk to God a little, then ignore all the bad things that are happening – ‘trust God’ and go back to pretending everything is okay?” Celia asked, her voice frustrated and angry.
“Not exactly,” Molly said. “What I’m saying is, trust God, find your comfort in Him, let Him be in control, and then and only then, everything will be okay. He will be in charge. You don’t have to worry – about anything. Oh, that reminds me,” Molly started flipping pages again, “here’s another good one – ‘Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?’ That’s Luke 12:25-26.”
Celia’s forehead wrinkled. “Um…”
“Or this one, along the same lines,” Molly’s excitement was growing. “Matthew 6:28 – ‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.’”
“Okay,” Celia said. “I know we’re not really talking about clothes, but… I’m not sure I really understand. How can I not worry? Isn’t it human nature to worry?”
“That’s just it,” Molly smiled. “That’s the human way of dealing with things. What I’m talking about, what has helped me through my darkest days, is God’s way.”
“But how do I do that?” Celia asked, sitting up on the edge of her seat and wiping away another tear. “How do I just stop worrying and start trusting God? I have no idea how to do that or what that looks like.”
“You just answered your own question,” Molly pointed out with a smile. “You don’t need to know what you’re doing or where you’re going with it, you just have to start. Start here, start now, start today, and the rest will follow.”
Molly knelt in front of Celia, taking Celia’s hands in her own. “Can I pray with you?” she asked.
Celia nodded and knelt beside her, and together, on bended knee, they began to pray.
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This is well-written, with believable characters and dialog. I'd really like to read more with these characters.