Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Lock and Key (08/21/14)
-
TITLE: Inadequacies of a Dancer | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jodi Gardner
08/26/14 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
As a child Sarah dreamt of being a priest, a dancer, a business woman, and the first female president. She twirled gleefully to music as though she could not stop her body from moving; studied her bible conscientiously; completed homework dutifully and listened to her elders talk politics. Little by little social expectations stripped away her aspirations.
Her church said "girls can't be priests or pastors," devastating her deepest desire to shepherd God's people. So tender Sarah by age seven decided she would become a nun. As she matured she often played with the boys only to hear, "Nuns don't date or hang out with boys." Hence, with unremitting joy she ventured onto her next dream.
One by one Sarah's ambitions crumbled from the weight of stringent gender roles, lack of educational opportunities, and financial hardships. With each wounding, she built higher and thicker stockades around her heart.
Nevertheless, Sarah continued to dance. If music played or if she sensed a silent rhythm within her soul, she danced. She skipped, hopped and twirled to express her love for Christ. The sway of her body and the meticulous movements of her hands and feet mapped out grand stories for her best friend…Jesus. As each idealistic hope crashed on the rocks of reality, she turned to Him.
At age 15, Sarah sustained a devastating bran injury that ruined any hopes of dancing professionally. She had to learn to walk and talk again after being struck by a drunk driver.
Family and care-providers marveled at her tenacity. She continued to go to her friend, Jesus, for support. Even when the words did not make sense to anyone else, she talked to Him as if He sat beside her. Together, they completed her rehabilitation program. Within two short years, Sarah returned to school with her friends.
Her father died from a heart attack when she was 19. He had been her human rock. Family witnessed Sarah reinforcing her emotional barricades designed to protect her stolen dreams. She did not bounce back this time.
Sarah is now 28 years old. She lives alone, rents a little house downtown, has a couple friends, and attends her church regularly. She completed high school and some community college. Though she tried dating, the men she met only reinforced her sense of inadequacy.
By now the ramparts around her heart shield her from fully experiencing life. Though she continues to talk with God, she has lost the reverence of their once dynamic relationship. Tonight, Sarah's fragile world collapsed: she learned the only person she remotely trusted was murdered.
Falling to her knees, Sarah sobbed until she could not breathe. As she rocked herself on the floor, she called out to God, "What have You done?! Why do You take delight in watching me suffer?!" No answer came. Again she screamed for some form of acknowledgement. Exhausted, Sarah succumbed to sleep.
Even her dream taunted her. She found herself in a dark alley screaming, "I hate you! Do you hear me, I hate you!" at all her memories of disappointment, bitterness, and loss. She shrieked as a man dressed in black began merrily gouging at her heart, leaving gashes and gushing blood. Defeated, she huddled against a dumpster.
Finally, after what seemed hours of pleading for help, a man dressed in white entered the alley. Bewildered, Sarah questioned whether to trust the newcomer or try to crawl away. As he approached, she tilted her head as if trying to remember his face. Stopping several feet way, he crouched down so she could see him. "Sarah, I want to help. Will you trust me to heal your heart, even just a little? We will unlock the gates together." He knew to surrender everything at once would overwhelm her, thus leaving her trapped.
Sheepishly, Sarah reached out a trembling hand. "I hoped You would come. Are You angry with me? Did I do something wrong to deserve all this?" With a gentle smile, her childhood best friend replied, "No dear, you are my chosen one. The enemy tried to take you from Me, but I wouldn't let him."
Sarah woke with a peace she had not experienced for years. She knew recovering her treasured heart would require total surrender; but, with Jesus beside her, soon she would be dancing again.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
God bless~
With contentment she could use what God had given her to be the person God had wanted her to be.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
God bless~