Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: JOURNEY (01/13/22)
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TITLE: To The Contrary | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sue Botte
01/19/22 -
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He knew what he was talking about. His autopsy confirmed he suffered a rare form of dementia, which led to his suicide. Sad, but true, he was only sixty-three.
It was a Tuesday morning, approximately six AM when Annie woke up with the feeling of a hand tugging at the back of her neck, firm but gentle.
“Move to Pretoria.”
Instinctively Annie knew it to be God.
Within a month, Annie settled in Pretoria.
However, Annie’s odyssey started before that morning.
What is he talking about…what exactly is he saying? Annie kept on thinking as she attended a diploma course in Small Business Management.
Annie realized her base knowledge on the subject was lacking. She felt ashamed of herself.
That afternoon she stopped at the library, and became a member immediately, since then she frequented the library.
“You’re up early Annie. It is Saturday, where are you going?” Aaron asked.
“I am off to the library; a few things I want to read up on.”
“You went to the library last week…are you seeing somebody there? Never mind, I invited friends over. I said we would make the salads and provide the meat. I thought we were going shopping this morning.”
“Aaron, are you accusing me? Did you discuss this with me; did you really say we will provide salads and the meat…what about our budget? I am leaving now I have an appointment with the librarian…see you later; we can go shopping then.”
He is lonely! It makes sense, since I no longer participate in certain conversations. It dawned on Annie.
Annie realized, since making the conscious decision of becoming a more acceptable self, when entertaining, the company annoyed her. Jokes were below the belt…people they knew were discussed behind their backs, and not kindly. She felt more ashamed that she used to participate.
“Please excuse me.” Annie said for the umpteenth time. In the bathroom, she prayed.
“You were quiet this afternoon.” Aaron later commented.
“I don’t feel so good. I think I have a bladder infection.” Forgive me for this lie.
“Ya, right.” He snorted.
She ignored him.
The cracks are becoming more and more visible. The abyss is more welcome than the next social with friends.
In the library, she took a flyer about a charismatic church, which was nearby; she joined. She did bible study on a regular basis.
“Aaron, I am going to church tomorrow morning, feel like joining me?”
“Church…you know how I feel about church.”
“It is time to bury the hatchet. I am going; and so that you know, I have joined a cell group.”
Aaron turned the TV on.
Not long after that conversation, divorce proceedings started.
One day, when Annie was leaving the nearby shopping centre, she noticed a flyer in the parking lot, without thought, she bend down and picked it up. It was about a Christian Counselling course presented in Pretoria, which coincided with her move there. She phoned and enrolled.
Once in Pretoria Annie kept attending courses, mostly through the new church she joined and courses offered at the Community Centre.
She needed it, for herself and for her children. Nobody wants to introduce his mother who can only talk about washing powder, domestic help and abuse. Nobody.
Annie faced temptation after temptation; it demanded decision upon decision and guts to continuously ‘stick-to-your-guns.’
Annie pressed on.
Her ‘friends’ and siblings could not grasp what she was doing; they labelled her a snob.
Name calling, that suits me.
She stood like a lighthouse, albeit on a rock.
“Hallo, is this Telefriend?”*
“Hi, yes it is. What is your name?” A friendly voice answered; Annie started to cry.
“Hi, yes, my name is Annie. Please…(sniffles) pray for me. I got divorced a few months ago…no, I am not sorry about the divorce. I am in the process of getting myself out of the mind-set of abuse, blame and neglect…”
The Telefriend lady prayed for Annie whilst she was the line.
She has almost come full circle.
The transitional journey was long, hard and arduous.
Today Annie knows her own value and is comfortable with herself. She has the maturity and confidence to walk away from company she does not want to be associated with.
The most important journey in your entire life is an inspired journey to the contrary.
_____________ .
Based on true events.
*Telefriend – Christian based telephone service for prayer.
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