Fire and Ice | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Fire and Ice | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sarah Parker
04/12/09
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There she stands at the back of the church. She is piercing me with baby blues while pretending to be interested in what the unstylish woman with the orange pea coat is saying. There I stand attempting inconspicuous glances at her while pretending to be interested in what her husband is saying to me. Gulp. Gulp, gulp. I am younger, more attractive, and more desirable in man’s eye. But dear Lord! Does she think me a terrible vixen? What God has brought together, let no man separate! This I know. She must not know what I know, or she would know. Even if she knew what I know I’m not convinced that it would make the difference. Even if they weren’t “together” - that’s still one pancake I would not flip! For I find him nothing to look at – especially the innards. Dry, just like icky pancakes. It takes a special person to not like pancakes. God forgive me, I am not meaning to be…..mean. It’s just that I see his heart, and his heart frightens me. Perhaps not as much as the piercing baby blues. But enough about them Lord, what about me? Am I not dressed most modestly? I guess I could have worn longer sleeves… maybe. But I do not flit, I do not flaunt, I do not flirt. And I did not seek him out. Perhaps it is him she does not trust. But why am I the one being punished? She’s so hot and cold towards me.

I remember the time she came to my home. Said she came to offer food and friendship. She had a box of dried goods with her. If ever I was in need of them, it was then. My monthlies were so high and I was in between jobs. My good friend told me to be careful what I say to her. Said she may spill her guts if I dared to confide. I was cautiously aware. But God, I didn’t think she would actively seek a means in which to spill her guts. Oh the embarrassment when she turned around and told the entire congregation what she had done for me! Now they all knew my personal situation! If spilling guts was her niche that practically made her an organ donor! Some would have called it charitably valiant, the food I mean; however after tasting the stale goods, I’d have called it “spring cleaning your pantry 101.” Oh God, forgive your ungrateful servant. Love always believes the best. But Lord, she’s so hot and cold towards me!

And what about the time I started working at the lumber mill? She said that if I ever needed another woman to talk to I could come to her. Ninny Muggins that I am, I took her up on her offer. I joined her and some co-workers in the lunch room. That day I had brought a protein shake and some Doritos. Part nutritious and part delicious. But the interrogating questions about my lunch choice made me squirm. Lord why do her questions make me squirm every time? Yes God she would make a very good litigator… and…. an organ donor! There was the “what are you eating,” and the “why are you eating that?” In addition to the “If you’re eating so healthy then why are you eating Doritos?” I didn’t want to have to tell her that was all that was in the cupboard, lest she come over with more dry goods. She ridiculed me in front of our co-workers over the choice of food I brought to work! That’s so grade three! She even snickered at me. Yes God, she is a snickerdoodle! She’s so hot and cold towards me!

Indeed we are polar opposites. I am like fire, and she, like ice. I am li…..What my lord? What is that you say? Take the plank out of my own eye? Do not slander and praise her in one breath? Do not think rude thoughts or wish mean things or dream of saying to her what I really ought not to say? Do not try to persuade others to think as I do about her or respond to others when they look to me to think as they do? Set my mind of things above? See Christ in her? Treat her as my sister?

My Lord….. Forgive me…..I have done unto her the very thing she hath done unto me……I am so hot and cold towards her.

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