Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Chillax (04/03/14)
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TITLE: Running on empty | Previous Challenge Entry
By JK Stenger
04/09/14 -
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This morning I saw the overwhelming amount of work on my desk. It is clear that I’m in for a rough day. Where does all that work actually come from? And most of it is unpleasant. Like paying bills and having to write the tax office in order to explain the mistake they made in their favour.
I feel stressed.
But I’d better start. There’s not a minute to waste.
Maybe I should skip breakfast. I am a little hungry, but I could fill that empty hole in my tummy with another cup of coffee. That worked before.
And what about a little good morning time with the Saviour?
No, not today. That will have to wait as well.
I slide behind my desk, nervous and tense. My day has now officially started.
“What are you doing?”
A gentle voice interrupts my thinking.
I know that voice. It’s the Lord.
“Lord, good morning. I am working. You have no idea how busy I am!”
“Try Me,” he gently chides. “I can see you are busy. It’s all over your face and to be honest, it’s not a pleasant sight.”
“Please Lord,” I object. “This is something I have to take care of first. If I don’t start now, I will never get through all that work!”
I clench my jaws firmly together and try to concentrate again on the worldly matters at hand. First I’ll do the most unpleasant thing. That would be the letter to the taxman.
But the Lord doesn’t like to be pushed aside. Suddenly I hear Him again.
“Chillax.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
“Chillax,” He says again.
I never heard that word before. Did I hear that right?
“What does that mean, Lord?”
“Look it up on Google.”
I turn to my screen and google ‘chillax’.
There it is. It is an actual word. It’s slang.
“Chillax…a combination of chill and relax.
There is a sample sentence as well, “Dude, just chillax. Just because you are busy doesn't mean you can't have fun.”
The Lord uses slang? He knows words like ‘Chillax’ and ‘dude’?
That shouldn’t surprise me. After all, He speaks any language and He can communicate in a thousand ways.
The Lord sure has a sense of humour and I smile.
I realise it’s the first smile of the day. It’s like a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds and it warms my ruffled nerves.
I try to listen if He has more to say.
He does.
“You are spun out.”
That’s slang too. That word I know. It means ‘stressed out’.
That’s what I am.
I’m running on empty. I have an empty stomach, an empty heart and little personal strength. It's my own fault; I should have known better.
A famous quote on my wall says it all:
“If your day is hemmed with prayer, it is a lot less likely to unravel.”
How come I forget so easily?
It is that daily battle between the world and God. The world is constantly trying to take the lead and position itself on the throne of my life.
But the world will fade, and only what’s done for Christ will last.
“I’m sorry Lord. Forgive Me for getting it all mixed up again.”
I take a deep breath, put my pencil down and get up.
First I’m going to get something to eat and then I’m going to take quiet time.
I need to chillax with my Saviour. Just until He tells me it’s time to work.
Suddenly the doorbell rings.
It’s the mailman with a letter. It’s from the tax office.
I open it and while I’m reading another smile comes over me.
It reads: “We have to inform you of a mistake on our part…”
It continues to explain that I can discard their former letter. They will send me a good return on my taxes.
Thank you, God. You worked it all out.
“I can do all things!” I hear the Lord speaking. “You just need to get your priorities straight. Shall we chillax now for a little bit?”
I’m a little ashamed of how easily I get distracted by the cares of this world, but my heart now yearns for fellowship with my precious Saviour.
“Lord, I’m ready now. Thank You, that You still want to chillax.”
This is going to be a great day.
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God bless~
We all sometimes need to be reminded of this point.
Some of your paragraphs seem broken up. When it is the same person thinking or speaking don't break the paragraph. When another person begins to speak, then start a new paragraph.
I really like the content of the message. It is encouraging because I see others have the same problem I have but finally makes the right choice. This is encouraging.
Keep you heart in heaven and your eyes in God's word as you write.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece, and its message. You also did a goodjob of developing a realistic MC. Thanks for sharing.
God bless~