The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Appointment (02/09/12)
I have a date with destiny. Actually, it’s not quite as grand as that. Tomorrow morning and every day thereafter, until I hit Saturday again, I’ll have that date. Many dates, to be ‘exacter’.

If it were up to me, I wouldn’t arrange these little moments in time…these twists of fate…these bumps into chaos. Not at all. Definitely out of my comfort zone, high school is.

Eight A.M. will find me with my first brush with chaos. A couple of very strange travelers, not quite fit for earthly habitation, enter and smile at me. “What brings you guys to earth today?” I ask.

They have some fantastic tale that captures my imagination. I accept them for who they are, kooky as they may be, and enter into their play. Actually, I started this pretendness. One has hair in his eyes, almost to the chin and extremely skinny. The other, a vertically-challenged, red-haired young man who wears shorts year around. He squints into the sun while declaring his nocturnal-ness. See? Strange appointment, but fun.

I walk through the Commons and pull pony tails, lay my hand on shoulders, pause and ask how things are when I catch a sad eye. I may sit down and listen. The stories I hear tear at my heart. I want to help but don’t know how. No one knows, and please don’t tell, but when my hand goes on a shoulder or the head, I’m praying. Shhhh….

Algebra, first hour – is my appointment with a guy that doesn’t want me to bother him. Jordan’s words slice at my heart, but I continue to reach out, not because it’s my job but because I truly care.

I intersect with two teens, a male and female, who are confused about their sexuality. The male is wonderful…and the girl, she’s so real with me. She argues yet shares her heart. What a relationship we have. I cry out to God, “Why me?” So far, I haven’t heard an audible answer so I press on. These teens continue to grow closer to me and I to them.

Another girl was too embarrassed to tell me she was pregnant. We’ve gone back several years now, and she knows my beliefs. I wasn’t with her the beginning of the year. I was somewhere else the first semester. I thought it was where I was supposed to be and I truly loved it. While there, God set up different appointments but then it got ripped away. I griped and complained, but then I settled in to this new/old routine. I was back where I belonged and I realized I missed a whole bunch of appointments. Who was keeping them when I was away? It makes me wonder if maybe I wasn’t following God’s will when I took the new position, you know? How many appointments did I miss? Maybe it wasn’t God’s will. All that matters is now, I suppose. I watch Sara’s baby bump grow each day as we talk.

I hang out with some of the toughest of kids. We laugh and I convince them they should probably do their homework and study. They teach me things too; unfortunately, it’s not always things I want to know.

They teach me about real life. How life isn’t fair. They live in a world where parents drink, do drugs, and share bad attitudes. Some don’t know the basics of the Bible and believe in Jesus as much as they do Santa Claus. They have no desire to rise up out of poverty and do better than their parents. Many of the teens have spent time in jail. That’s their life. No big deal to them yet my jaw drops. I’m brushing up against convicts? My knees shake a bit…God?

These teens/convicts/illegal aliens, these crazy adolescents, are a piece of my life-line to God. I truly love them. I love my job. I don’t get paid much. I’m not their parent. I’m not their teacher. I’m just…Who am I kidding. I don’t know who I am except one of God’s servants keeping some appointments.

I said these destiny dates weren’t grand. I was wrong.

“Hey.”

I scoot my lunch over and Tricia plops her English paper on my desk.

Since I was in my room, she knew my ‘office’ was open.

Hmmm…just like you, God. I like that thought. Just like You… I don’t know how long I’ll be allowed to minister to these kids, but, “Here I am Lord, please keep sending me.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1039 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Allison Egley 
02/18/12
Oh, this reminds of "Al" at my high school. He was a lunch monitor, and I think many, many of us considered to be a "grandpa." He died a few years ago, and was still actively working at school, though it didn't happen at school. They've dedicated the wall he always stood by to him.
Joanne Sher 
02/21/12
I know who wrote this - and I LOVE it. What you've written, and what you do. Beautiful stuff, my sista.
Cheryl von Drehle
02/22/12
This is an intriguing read and well drawn MC. I'm not clear exactly what MC job is, even after a second read (counselor?) I thought teacher because of reference to first hour Algebra but I guess not. I most liked the brief interactions with so many characters in such a short time...yet so meaningful. Structure of some sentences I think could be a little tighter, but overall flows well. Strong treatment of the topic...Good job!
Yvonne Blake 
02/23/12
I love this. I love the idea of God making these appointments with those He wants us to bless each day.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/23/12
Congratulations for ranking 9th in level 4 and 13th overall!