The Promise Keeper | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Promise Keeper | Previous Challenge Entry
By Diane L. Johnson
01/13/16
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Streamers laid lifeless on the ground. Headless party hats were strewn on vacant streets. Distant sounds of party horns echoed in the wind. It had been a long night of celebration. Millions had attended. Shouts of Happy New Years had been heard across the land. And now that it was well past midnight, everyone had vanished. Everyone, except Resolution, who stood in a drunken stupor of his own glory. He was intoxicated with what he thought was an absolutely spectacular evening. And he didn’t care if he had indeed made a spectacle of himself. It was well worth it. Nevertheless, it was almost dawn, and he was spent. The party’s over, it was time to go home.

Resolution couldn’t wait to kick off his shoes and collapse in his favorite recliner chair. He was elated he still remained unscathed. So far, so good. He closed his eyes to rest when suddenly a familiar eeriness crept over him and a grave darkness enveloped him. He shuddered as he felt his resolve slipping away. He could literally feel the weight of an enormous burden upon his shoulders bearing him down. Down. Down. Voices assailed the air cackling that good intentions were dying -- promises were dropping into the abyss -- and hope was evaporating leaving a black hole of nothingness. Resolution watched in horror as all three, good intentions, promises and hope, were being sucked down deep into the dark bowels of the earth. Then swiftly, to his terror, there stood right before his very eyes, an enormous, repulsive and powerful creature he knew all too well. His adversary, Shame. He had come for him… once again…same as all new years.

Resolution screamed as Shame’s eyes pierced through him to his very core. He cowered and curled up into a fetal position. His mind was reeling. His thoughts floundering. He was reduced to whimpering under Shame’s scrutiny. Begging, blaming. Please don’t kill me! It’s not my fault! It’s the humans! They invited me! But Shame was not swayed. His plan was to get rid of this nuisance and pathetic creature for good. But as luck would have it, fear overtook Resolution and he passed out. So Shame decided he would deal with him later.

Shame stood arrogantly and with boldness took his place as guard in the world’s cemetery of dead resolutions. He continually searched high and low for as much as a hint of hope arising in 2016. He gloated as he gained strength and power from the humans' failed miserable attempts of resolutions. He lived for this day. He prided himself and dedicated his life to ensure that all mankind would never see the light of better days. In fact, they had a better a chance in hell. He chuckled. Oh how he loved to loath them.

But suddenly, as the sun began to rise in the sky, a great roaring Wind began to blow and sweep through the land carrying a majestic, powerful and beautiful melody and the angels began singing:

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."*

Then a powerful earthquake erupted, Heaven split open. Through it’s portal came the Spirit of the Lord. Permeating the atmosphere to a full swell he delivered the words of The Promise Keeper and the whole universe listened --

*For I know the plans I have for you,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."**

"Now I am about to go the way of all the earth.
You know with all your heart and soul
that not one of all the good promises
the Lord your God gave you has failed.
Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed."***

Resolution woke with a start only to look around, yawn and fall back into a deep slumber until he would be awakened once again at the end of the year. But Shame’s resolve deflated like a popped party balloon. He was diminished to a small worm, squirming and slithering as he crawled back into the dark bowels of the earth along with his cackling creatures.

The new morning had arrived with a glorious sunrise. Many who had heard the words of the Spirit of the Lord turned away from following Resolution. Instead, they chose to put their trust in The Promise Keeper, where eternal hope and promises forever give way, not just on New Year’s Day.

* Proverbs 19:21
** Jeremiah 29:11
*** Joshua 23:14

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