Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: The Kingdom of God (03/12/09)
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TITLE: Fireflies | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karlene Jacobsen
03/19/09 -
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When at last I opened my eyes, I saw a man standing before me. His eyes, gentle, crinkling in the corners, showed his readiness for a good laugh. He reached out his hand, and offered to help me up.
“Where am I?” I could barely find my voice.
The corners of his eyes turned up with his mouth as he broke into a broad smile. With a voice akin to waterfalls rushing over a cliff he whispered, “Come, I’ll show you.”
In the next instant, we were side by side, overlooking what appeared to be earth, but it was flat like a world map, yet alive; breathing, and three dimensional. Continents, complete with landforms, buildings, people of every nationality, and every animal ever created moved about.
Words dribbled down my chin as I attempted to articulate my wonder at the beauty lain before me. When I turned to Him, His eyes locked with mine. “I want you to see what I see.” My knees went weak; I could swim in the sound of His voice forever. Reaching out, He caught me and held tight. “Look again. See My kingdom.”
Strength regained, my gaze shifted toward the earth. Those people I had seen before were now wearing robes; some in white, others in darkness. Those dressed in white were lit like fireflies.
“Who are they?”
“The one’s dressed in darkness belong to the king of the world. They haven’t yet learned of My love. The others are citizens of My kingdom.”
“Why are they lit up like that?” The sight was intriguing.
“I AM the light of the world. My Spirit lives within them.” He spoke as a doting Father.
“They are carrying swords?”
“Yes, that is My Word.”
Then I noticed something troubling. “Why are those ‘fireflies’ striking each other with their sword? They’ve also built walls, blocking each other from communication.”
“Yes, My Father and I have been discussing them*. They do not yet know the truth of Paul’s exhortations*. One day they will turn their swords on the one who divides them.”
“I don’t understand. Why are they divided? If they are citizens of Your kingdom, shouldn’t they work together?”
He chuckled, “Do your children always agree? Do they always get along?”
“Hardly,” I laughed at the sad truth of it, my children were so different in personalities, they clashed all the time.
“It’s the same for them. They don’t realize I’ve given them their unique personalities to compliment each other. They have jobs specifically designed for their personality.”
Understanding began to spring forth in my heart. “So, they all have pieces of Your truth?”
“Yes, My Father has so many facets to His personality, it would be humanly impossible for any one of them to grasp Him as a whole. It would be like assembling a 3-Dimensional puzzle, without being able to see the other side.”
“So we must rely on each other to help us with the side we are unable to reach?”
“You are beginning to see.” A twinkle in His eye caught mine. “Take this truth with you, and remember faith, hope and love; but the greatest is Love,”*
***
I woke with a start to something crashing in the kitchen. Fumbling for my glasses and sliding on my slippers, I shuffled down the hall to find my family trying to cook breakfast.
“Good morning Honey, you’re up!” My husband grinned, wrapping his big hairy arms around me.
Looking up into his bearded face, I smiled sleepily, “You’ll never guess where I went in my dreams last night.”
“Please tell me it had something to do with fireflies.” A twinkle in his eye told me I had been talking in my sleep again.
***
John 17:20-26
Ephesians 6:12
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
Ephesians 4:1-6
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I think it would have been stronger without the "it was only a dream" structure.
You did a great job with imageray and with dialogue.
Very creative thinking!
Mona