Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: The Short End of the Stick (02/20/14)
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TITLE: Blessings in the midst of pain | Previous Challenge Entry
By david arroyo
02/24/14 -
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Jack never would have entertained the idea of moving to a city like New York before his ten year old daughter was diagnosed with stage four leukemia back in the early part of winter. It was spring time now, Jack’s favorite season. This is the season when nature begins to come alive again, birds can be heard singing while perched in the newly blossomed trees, the warm air begins to overcome the previously frigid Northern air that defines much of the winter season, and the vibrant colors begin to emerge out of what had been, seemingly, lifeless and dead.
“Oh, God!” Jack moaned “Please breathe new life into the body of my baby. You who created the seasons, you breathe new life into trees and cause them to bloom again, have mercy on my daughter, have mercy on me!” Jack had stepped outside of the hospital and into the outdoor courtyard. He had thought he was alone when he made this impassioned plea to God but when he turned he realized that there behind him sat, on an ornate stone bench, an older gentleman. “I’m sorry” the gentleman spoke “I didn’t mean to eves-drop on your prayer to God. But if you want to talk about it, I’m all ears.” As Jack walked over to where the gentleman sat, he noticed that the man had the deepest blue eyes that he had ever seen. They seemed to sparkle like the oceans of the Caribbean Seas, with a clarity to match. It was as though Jack could see straight into the man. Jack suddenly began to pour out his life story to the gentleman, much to Jack’s own surprise. He told how his wife, his high school sweetheart, had been killed eight years earlier by a drunk driver while making, what was supposed to be, a quick trip to the grocery store. The winding roads of the Tennessee mountains proved to be too much for the drunk to handle, so Jack alleged, and he collided head on into his wife’s SUV. “Hadn’t this been enough for God?” Jack bellowed. “He took my wife and now He wants my baby girl. She’s dying of stage four Leukemia and there is nothing I can do about it. I despise my life.”
At this, the older gentleman straightened up in his seat, locking his piercing eyes with those of Jack’s. Tears, of obvious compassion, were flowing down the gentleman’s face, yet, oddly enough, the gentleman did not seem anxious, in any way, about the situation. “Jack”, the gentleman spoke Jack’s name as though they were the oldest of friends. “Remember those times when you have felt fully alive, when you have felt the nearness of God and felt the life of nature pulsating through your veins. Remember those times of great joy that you had with your wife and that you still have with your daughter. Don’t allow the sorrows of this life to destroy your faith in the God who is called Immanuel.” With that, the gentleman stood up and walked away. Jack, stunned, watched him for a minute then turned to make his way back into the hospital. While pondering the words of the wise gentleman he remembered that he had never mentioned his love for nature. So, why did the gentleman mention the joy that nature brings him?
Then the gentleman’s words to “remember those times of great joy…you still have with your daughter” began to resonate in his mind. Jack took off running towards the elevator, which would carry him to the third floor where he could be with his little, living girl… fully present with her. As the elevator door opened, a young lady stepped out, her piercing blue eyes locking onto the eyes of Jack. “Never forget,” she said “in all your sorrow, the name Immanuel, God is with you.”
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I loved it.
God bless~