Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Worship (corporate) (10/04/07)
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TITLE: Perfection Among Destruction | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shanon Hinkel
10/07/07 -
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“Kathryn, don’t go so close to the house. Come back this way.” Mom was finishing up a conversation with one of the neighbors. She had told me that it had been a mistake to come home. We would be leaving soon. I ignored mom’s plea to stay away from the desecrated structure, inching closer.
Hurricane Katrina had not been good to us. My stomach churned from the sickening stench in the air… was that sea water? I felt dizzy as I began to recognize our things, strewn about in the mud-covered yard. Mom’s sewing machine. Was that a picture frame? I needed to get a closer look…
“Kathryn, do not go any closer to that house.” Mom’s face was tear-stained. She never cried in front of me or my brother, Adam. Mom just didn’t cry, ever. I couldn’t feel myself walking anymore. This just wasn’t real. I just knew I would wake up from this nightmare any second.
“As soon as Grandpa gets back, we’re getting out of here.” Mom sat on the trunk of an overturned oak tree. This neighborhood had been full of immense, magnificent oaks that were hundreds of years old. Now, most of them lay across their owners’ lawns, on their houses, or just were unidentifiable amongst all of the trash.
Our yard contained at least an acre’s worth of debris from other peoples’ yards along with whatever washed up when the water came rushing in. The smell was overwhelming at first, but suddenly I realized I couldn’t smell it anymore. I couldn’t feel anything either, not even my own body as I moved about the rubbish. Mom stared blankly at the ground and seemed to have forgotten about my wanderings. I was thankful that Adam had gone with Grandpa to check on his place. We should have listened to Adam. We should have stayed at the hotel and not come back. We should have listened to Adam…
After some time I realized I was crouched down where the back deck should have been, holding my old Raggedy Ann doll. The backyard had taken some maneuvering to get to, but I had spotted the doll and wanted it so badly. After I’d finally made my way to it, I just couldn’t get up and make my way back. So there I stayed, waiting for Grandpa and Adam to come back and take us out of here.
Despair began to penetrate my being as the filthiness encompassed me. I could feel the mud on and under me, could see wreckage as far as my eyes would focus. My house was unrecognizable. This was my neighborhood. My hometown. The only home I’d ever known. Where would we go? I closed my eyes as the tears began to fall, clutching Raggedy Ann so tightly my fingers turned white.
Just as quickly as Despair’s hold took grasp, it seemed to let go. I could feel its grip lessening as I felt a warm sensation running through me.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Yes! I had heard those words before! I knew they had taken root within me.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
As my fingers loosened around Raggedy Ann, Peace came over me like a flood. I heard Adam, Grandpa, and Mom in the distance praying. Perfection and beauty among so much destruction. I rose to my feet using the same wood planks and limbs to get me back to the front yard. My legs felt light and I didn’t notice the muck anymore.
We will praise You in the storm, Lord. You are still You, no matter what happens, You are still in control.
I knew for the first time in my life how right Grandpa was.
I didn’t know where we would go or what we would do. All I had was the Lord’s refuge, found only in His wings; His faithfulness, my shield and protection. My worship, all I could give Him in return.
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