Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Fruit (10/10/05)
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TITLE: A Snapshot | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dave Wagner
10/17/05 -
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It was a pleasant distraction, contemplating such a bright, unusual moon. Mel welcomed this opportunity to cease dwelling on life events for a brief time and simply marvel at God’s hand. Up ahead, the pathway bent around a large group of boulders, but rather than follow the path, she hopped up onto one of the smaller boulders, then proceeded to climb until she was sitting on the highest point of the highest boulder. Didn’t take long, and she wasn’t more than ten feet in the air, but still, she had the time to burn, and she was well aware of the fact that she was in the process of creating a memory here: climbing boulders in the middle of the night to marvel at the moon.
From her vantage point, she could also see her destination: the great hall by the lake, which served as the main meeting hall for the campsite. It was dark now, the campgrounds being deserted at present. Next weekend, the busses would arrive, and several hundred kids would begin pouring in for their week-long stay, but for now the campgrounds belonged to Mel, and Mel alone – city girl and guest speaker, invited to minister to her first large group of kids. A frightening prospect, in many ways, but Mel knew it was the beginning of an adventure with the King. Her schedule allowed time off ahead of time, so she had arranged to come to the camp, to pray and prepare.
The only thing lit as brightly as the moon was the cross that stood atop the great hall, a pair of spotlights illuminating it. The moon and the cross, both reflecting light, speaking, as it were, out into the night, bringing direction and hope and assurance.
Mel hoped she could do the same for those hundreds of kids coming from everywhere – reflect the light of God, bring hope and light and assurance to those wandering in darkness and pain and confusion. Mel remembered her days of darkness very well; it seemed a lifetime ago, but really wasn’t even a decade. A stranger, a bus stop, and a life-changing conversation had led her to God, and set her upon the path that led to this camp opportunity, and the chance to return the favor.
That was the way seed worked, she pondered. A seed is planted, it is tended, it grows into a tree, it is pruned and fertilized, it receives sun and rain, good times and hard, and ultimately, if it has been tended correctly by caring hands, it is ready to bear fruit. That fruit will contain within itself more seed. The fruit is harvested, eaten and enjoyed, and the seed is cast aside or planted elsewhere. The cycle repeats itself. Each seed contains within itself the potential for innumerable orchards and bushels of future fruit, if it is treated correctly.
Mel smiled. “Thank you for your light, Lord, and for this opportunity to be used to reflect it. Use me, Lord. I want to be your hand extended to this kids. You know each heart, and you have a word of life that you could give to each one. Let me be your hands and your mouth.”
It felt so nice out here; so quiet and beautiful. Mel felt she could sleep out here, right on the boulder, but she knew in the morning she would regret it, so after a few more minutes of reflection, she gathered herself, descended and continued down the path, letting the moon and the cross guide her.
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This is a wonderful use of words! Your writing conveyed a beautiful image in my mind, and I felt I was looking over the shoulder of your MC. Masterful writing!