Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Willingness (02/21/05)
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TITLE: Will and Lee | Previous Challenge Entry
By
02/28/05 -
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Startled by the ringing tone, Lee grabbed the telephone, while keeping his eyes on the television. “Hello, this is Lee.”
“Hey, Lee. It’s me again, Keith. I wanted to update you on the Tillis account. I think we swung the deal, but we need to do some more finagling with the Brunser people.”
Lee struggled to concentrate on the phone conversation. “Good job on the Tillis deal, Keith, but that account only required a little fine-tuning. The Brunser account deserves our full attention; we need that account. Tell the boys to go all out on this one, everything, and anything goes.”
“They’re working hard, Lee, and they know the significance of that account. They spent all night going over the books.”
“Remember the deadline, Keith. Brunser is the crème de la crème, my man. It’ll put us over the top.” A smirk crossed Lee’s face as he issued the challenge.
“We’re on it, Boss. Hey, by the way, have you been watching the news tonight? That missionary hostage, doesn’t he look like the religious guy who used to be your partner? As I recall, he left about the time I started, so I don’t remember much about him. That picture sure looks like him.”
Lee glanced at the television. A shampoo commercial interrupted the report about Will. “Yea, that’s him alright. Will Hendricks. I haven’t seen him for years though. I lost contact with him shortly after he left the partnership.”
“Well, I thought that looked like him. I’ll call you later; Boss, as soon as I hear something on the Brunser deal.”
Laying the phone aside, Lee stared at the television screen, as a reporter interviewed Will’s wife Danielle. Standing with a few members of a church in Puente, Danielle advised the reporter of prayers offered for Will. She spoke calmly, as others in the group wept. The network flashed to another portrait of Will, taken just before his capture.
Aroused by the picture, Lee recalled the day he and Will acknowledged Jesus during their third year of college. At a Campus Crusade meeting, they committed their lives to follow Jesus as his disciples. During their final year in college, Will organized Bible studies in their off-campus apartment. Although Lee enjoyed going to church and attending the group studies, he struggled with doubts and temptations. When they graduated college, he and Will stumbled upon a small computer operation, which expanded into a successful business venture.
Returning his eyes to the newscast, Lee caught the final clip, which featured Danielle and the small group of believers in a circle, praying. As he watched, Lee thought of his own life, including two divorces and alimony payments. A previous conversation with Will popped into his mind, when he asked Will how he could just willingly walk away from a successful business. Will responded that he wanted to be obedient to the Lord’s call on his life. That conversation took place almost sixteen years ago.
The ringing phone interrupted his thoughts of the past. The caller ID showed Keith calling again, probably with another update on the Brunser account. He allowed the phone to ring until the answer machine clicked on, and then he adjusted the phone’s ringer to the off position. With hands in his back pockets, he sauntered over to shut the television off. Searchingly, he stared at the blank screen for a few minutes, before moving to the bookshelf and retrieving a Bible. The same Bible he carried during his college days.
He switched on the pole lamp and kicked back in his easy chair. With the Bible in his lap, he attempted to focus on the hand written words, “To Lee, my brother in Christ, Love Will.” Prayerfully, he closed his eyes and strained for words, as tears dropped onto the opened pages.
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