Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Christian Baptism (10/18/07)
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TITLE: Returning to Him | Previous Challenge Entry
By Grace .
10/25/07 -
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She lived in a Christian family but Emily wasn’t sure she wanted that kind of life. She wanted one filled with money and riches. One with servants and pleasure. She did not care about God. Emily thought He was some make believe illusion that only existed in everybody’s heads. She would not show that to her family though. She couldn’t let them know.
It was Sunday. That meant church. Emily would have to sit through another long , boring, service that was full of fairytales. She couldn’t think of any thing worse then that.
Emily got up and left her plain room to eat breakfast. The eggs tasted liked cold oatmeal, and they filled her mouth with the scent of old shoes.
“Emily, get ready for church!” Emily’s mother shouted from the hall. “We are leaving in twenty-five minutes.”
“Okay.” Emily trudged back up to her room and to change into her plain church out fit, but grateful for the chance to get rid of her disgusting eggs.
It was warm and bright that day at church. Heat radiated off the sanctuary’s clean, red carpet. The scent of vanilla wafted through the sanctuary and the noise of chattering people floated around the room, making it impossible for Emily to hear herself think.
“Another day at this boring old church. Why do Mom and Dad make me come every week?” Emily thought. “All we do is sing dumb songs about this Jesus illusion. Then this old man talks about Him. How boring!”
“Emily! Get your head out of the clouds! Pay attention. We are going to start singing. And I want you to at least listen to the songs.” Emily’s mother said.
Emily sighed and decided that listening to a couple of songs would not be too bad. As she sat there an the singers started to sing an interesting song. It was called Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin.
There was something about that song that made Emily stop and think. Something that made her wiggle in her seat. She couldn’t get it out of her mind. Emily didn’t hear much else that day from the sermon except that the pastor had said something about the Lord moving in many ways and the pastor would be baptizing people next week.
Church seemed to end a lot quicker that day and Emily seemed to be a bit disappointed.
Afterward she walked up to her mom and said she wanted to be baptized.
“Sure.” her mom said, a smile spreading across her face.
The next week Emily still wasn’t completely sure if she wanted this life, she still wanted money and riches. But she would still follow after this Jesus person who for some reason didn’t seem so much an illusion any more. Surely she could have money and Jesus.
Emily quietly walked forward when she was called to be baptized. The water sent shivers up her legs as she stepped in.
The pastor grabbed her and said, “Emily, I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” And he put her under the water.
“Emily…” A voice from somewhere under water said. “Welcome home.”
The surface of the water broke as Emily came back up. Everyone was clapping, cheering. Emily felt strangely different. She no longer care about money, about how fancy her room and clothes were. All she wanted to do was praise this Man named Jesus. The one who saved her. She knew her path.
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The only suggestion I would make is to get rid of the word "seem" that second time. The first time, it's appropriate. The service probably really didn't end early. It just seemed to. But I'd say she really WAS a bit disappointed.
Again, great story. Keep writing!