Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Confused (08/16/07)
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TITLE: The Righteousness of God | Previous Challenge Entry
By Maridee Sellarole
08/16/07 -
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Sam knew better than to ignore Joe’s wake-up call when it was his turn to make coffee. “Yeah, I’m up” Sam called with all the energy he could muster. Sam heard Joe close the bathroom door and turn on the shower so he momentarily relaxed. Something was bugging Joe more than usual. I’m no shrink he decided and stumbled his way to the kitchen to make the requested life-restoring brew.
As Joe drove to his office, his thoughts returned to the subject that had occupied him for weeks. Sure he wanted to get married, but why couldn’t Annie understand that he wanted to wait until Corporate made a decision about the upcoming promotion, which came complete with a raise and an expense account? What was with her lately anyway? “Lord,” Joe prayed “work all this out will You?” Joe also knew Annie didn’t care for cars the way he did. While riding the elevator to his floor he allowed his mind to wander. He loved everything about cars. He loved talking and hearing about them, but most of all, he loved fixing them over at Pop’s Shop where he spent his Saturdays.
With barely a foot out of the elevator, Joe heard his name. Seated in his boss’s office, Joe heard the dreaded words, nodding numbly. “Sorry Joe, I didn’t mean to ambush you. I didn’t want you to hear the news at the water cooler” his boss said with a wan smile.
“Thanks for telling me” Joe heard himself say. Back at his desk, Joe prayed “Is this Your idea of working things out God?”
Joe was trying to figure out how he would tell Annie about the promotion going to someone else when he noticed her car in front of his and Sam’s condo.
“Hi, Joe,” Annie squeaked as Joe walked in the door. “Sam let me in” she added unnecessarily. Annie took a deep breath and said with quiet resolve, “Joe, I need to talk to you . . .”
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Cool mornings had returned with the advent of September and Joe found that his jog brought him to Pop’s Shop. Too early even for the shop to be open, Joe sat on the wall in front and thought about Annie’s letter. She had decided to lengthen her short-term mission in Bolivia. She had met someone . . .
Joe heard Pop’s voice in the silence say “Look, Mama, its Joe.” Pop stepped out of the modest apartment attached to the shop and with an ear-to-ear smile on his face continued “you are just the man I want to see.”
“You see Joe, Mama and me we want to go to Florida to retire. My brother . . .” “Papa, just tell him” Mama ordered, then smiled at Joe. “Joe” Pop began firmly, “we know you love the shop. We want to sell it to you. You don’t have to give us anything now, just give us a monthly amount and later, if the shop does well, you can give us more.” They sat beaming and Joe sat dumbfounded with his coffee cup halfway to his mouth.
Suddenly, Joe remembered his careless prayer uttered that fateful day when he lost the promotion and his girl. In shame, he remembered his response and prayed “Lord, I’m sorry, I don’t deserve such grace.”
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Rising from under the hood of Mr. Tanner’s car, Joe wiped his hands and heard a voice say “Excuse me, can you look at my car, it’s making a funny noise. Attached to the voice was one of the most attractive girls Joe had ever seen. “Where’s the funny noise?” he asked, trying not to smile at her simplistic description.
“I have an interview at the church down the street” she explained walking toward her car. “It could be the brakes. That’s why I’m concerned, but I really think it’s the suspension . . .”
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