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Topic: Reading (01/25/07)
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TITLE: LISTEN AND LEARN | Previous Challenge Entry
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01/31/07 -
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“Boring – Boring – Boring.” - young Luke’s words, every time Beth opened a book and hollered “Story time”. Beth’s daughter Melody did the exact opposite. She dropped everything and ran to her mother’s side. Beth knew that learning was determined by the understanding of language. What was she to do to get Luke ‘hooked’?
Luke’s passion was toy cars and trucks. He was very creative with them, building bridges and tunnels out of blocks and Lego’s, even fashioning his own accessories from cardboard which he cut, pasted and colored.
Beth called Melody aside and told her she had an idea. She took a blank work book, covered it with pictures of road and farm vehicles then called, “Story time”! Melody came running; Luke snarled. With a voice louder than usual Beth began:
It was a dark evening when Gerry the Jeep tackled the steep road into the cottage. He was becoming very nervous because the trees seemed to be closing in around him as though they were giants with massive arms, ready to squish him. He wished he were a helicopter and could rise up above them. All of a sudden his wheels turned side ways and he found himself sliding down, down, down into a huge hole made of sand. Finally he stopped with a loud crashing boom shattering his ears. He had crashed into a massive boulder. “Is somebody there?” a voice hollered. “What’s that noise? Is somebody there?”
“Yes, I’m there, I mean here. I’m Gerry the Jeep. I’m in a big hole. Can you help me? Please I need help.”
“It’s okay Gerry the Jeep, I’m coming. With his lights glowing in the dark, Gerry looked up and saw a most wonderful sight; a huge red tow truck with giant wheels was racing towards him. “Don’t be frightened, I can get you out. I’m Trevor the Tow Truck. I’m here to help you.”
“What’s happening, Mom? Will the tow truck rescue him?”
“Rescue who? Luke. Who do you mean?”
“Gerry the Jeep!”
“I don’t know. Stay close. Let’s find out.”
One problem solved, thought Beth and with her children in bed she could no longer ignore a pressing problem of her own. On Sunday the young curate had given the congregation a challenge from the pulpit. “I’m wondering” he said as he held up his bible for everyone to see. “If I visited your home today, where would I find your bible? Would it be sitting on the coffee table for everyone to see? Would its pages be dog-eared from use? Perhaps I might see it on the shelf in your den, carefully well worn. Or?” and he hesitated for emphasis. “Is it tucked away out of sight, perhaps in a cupboard surrounded by magazines, wrapping papers and long forgotten gadgets? Does it hide in some dusty drawer with old slippers and long lost paraphernalia?
“Think about this. Wherever you find it; dust it off and open it at any page that happens to appear. Read this page carefully. Read it over again. Think about the message it delivers and ponder whether these words fit into your life today. You might be surprised; they could be very pertinent, even dear enough to promote healing for sorrows or anxieties that have been stored away in your heart.
“Once you’ve found your bible remember to locate it in a place of honor and study its message for a short time each day, recognizing it is your safest and dearest friend, the ‘Word of God’.”
After much procrastination Beth did just that. She was truly mystified at the difficulty she had had fulfilling the curate’s request. First she thought it silly, and then she decided she was much too busy and finally she questioned the curate’s perceptions of a woman’s life. Let’s see him soothe crying children, make nutritious meals on a menial wage and struggle in a work place without benefits! However once she complied with his wishes, she was amazed at the peace it gave her. She felt calm and secure knowing that God’s message was meant for her and that she had surmounted her bull-headedness and taken the time to read and listen.
Before slipping into bed she checked Luke and Melody, both so innocent and lovable, thanking God for his precious gifts of them. She resolved at that moment that both children would be attentive and joyful readers and that someday they too would be enjoying the Word of God.
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