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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: In and Out (04/30/09)
Lorraine (a faithful Christian who is active in her church) was in an awfully big hurry today. She gasps, as sits in her car at the red light, and quickly scans her to do list. “How can I ever get all this done today,” she exclaims. As soon as she makes the comment, the light turns green and she races off to her first stop, Wal-mart. Getting out of her car, she slams purse in the car door; she yanks the strap and nearly breaks it. She then leaves the purse dangling helplessly against the car and frantically searches for keyless remote - pressing the wrong button and setting off the car alarm. “Oh, be quiet”, she shouts -mashing the unlock key until the alarm is silenced. She opens the door and retrieves her purse and rushes toward the store entrance. “Oh, I hope I don’t see a single soul [person] I know. I don’t have time today. I need to be in and out!”
She approaches the sliding glass door and it hesitates, but eventually opens. Lorraine grabs a cart and off she goes. “Okay, I have everything” and she heads to the register. “Oh, wait….I forgot the eggs (all the way on the other side of the store).” She turns to walk toward the dairy section and whom did she see but Lucy, a former coworker from a few years ago. They smile and embrace. Lucy begins to recount their friendship and speaks sorrowfully of her troubled life now. Lucy is attempting to recover from an alcohol addiction that has led to the end of her marriage and has severed her relationship with her children.
Lorraine impatiently asserts, “Lucy, I wish I could help, but I had planned to be in and out of here by now. You see, I have a lot to do today and I am late already. I will pray for you though.” Lucy states (as Lorraine puts her cart in reverse to turn around), “I remember that you are a Christian and I never wanted to hear about Jesus when we worked together, but now I want to hear about Him, please.” “I’m so sorry, Lucy, but I have been in here for fifteen minutes longer than I had anticipated already. By now, I should be out of the next place I have to go. I will call you and we can talk tomorrow”- Lorraine’s voice fading as she moves further away. Lucy looks around and down at her cart, focusing on the prescription pain medication she just had filled.
The following week when Lorraine was nearly finished morning prayer and bible study, she remembers Lucy and begins to pray for her. She has not called her yet, but inserts calling her on her to do list for today. She sets out to retrieve the morning paper from the lawn. As she reads, she praises God for His many blessings-including time off today to sleep in and study at her leisure. Before long, Lorraine approaches the obituary section of the paper and nearly chokes on her coffee when she sees a picture of her desperate friend, Lucy. After the initial shock and reading the obituary over and over again, Lorraine finds the courage to contact Lucy’s ex-husband and discovers that Lucy had taken her own life the very same afternoon that she had talked to Lorraine.
What is the hard lesson that Lorraine (and all believers) must learn today? God is not subject to our time. How many lives are touched (in detriment) by our unwillingness to share the gospel of Jesus Christ when the opportunity presents itself? His Word says that we should “be wise in the way you [we] act toward outsiders (non-Christians); make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 NIV). We are influential and instrumental for the cause of Christ! For the Bible declares, “you [we] are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?” (Matthew 5:13a NIV). We should make plans, but our plans should always be subject to His purpose; sometimes our in(s) and out(s) leave others to do without-without even Christ.
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This article has been read 791 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
05/08/09
What irony! A hard lesson for us all to heed.

Please add an extra space between paragraphs, and be careful of switiching from past tense to present tense and back. A piece like this is probably best told all in present tense.

I like the little devotional moment at the end.
Yvonne Blake 
05/14/09
This is a good reminder that we need to be sensitive to God's plan for our time.
Leaving an extra space between paragraphs will help the reader. I had that problem at first too.
Keep writing.