Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: GIANTS (10/22/20)
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TITLE: A Leviathan Sized Love | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jim Harrison
10/29/20 -
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Once there was a young boy named Lokua (yaw-KOO-ah), he lived alone because pirates overtook his village one day
in the South Pacific. He lost almost his entire family in one devastating swoop, as well as everyone else that he had ever known was gone. They were either captured as slaves or killed because they were too old or thought that they would be difficult and just unmanageable for these marauders. These pirates were accustomed to taking anything that they desired. They lived off of the spoils, the loot that was taken by force. These Buccaneers usually strike unsuspecting ships at sea. Still, every once in a while, they choose one of the Polynesian Islands of the central and South Pacific, including Hawaii, also Tonga, Cook, and Samoa Islands.
During the raid on his settlement, young Lokua was under his grandfather's tutelage out in the jungle miles from his home, gathering fallen wood from an extraordinary tree that grew exclusively at the top of the islands only summit. You see, his grandfather Mano loves Preserving their history by passing down family traditions and teaching him tribal survival skills. Inculcating Lokua to the old ways became easy as he enjoyed all of the stories told by his Grandfather Mano; incidentally, Mano means "shark." These two truly enjoyed each other's company. One more thing that young Lokua loved to do was spending much of the day in the Pacific ocean; now, even though Mano was in his seventies, his passion was likewise the ocean and his family.
As they were on the way home and getting close to their village, both had a sudden burst of uneasiness. Plus, the stench of burnt human flesh was dangling in the air. Grandfather Mano told Lokua to stay put as he went ahead to do some forward area reconnaissance. At this point, young Lokua had the feeling of being on tenterhooks. From this juncture along the trail, one could usually hear the busyness of their village. Yes, something was undoubtedly off this evening, as the dusk slipped in without notice; this would be a day never to be forgotten by Lokua.
As time passed, Lokua knew in his heart that something was malapropos. His grandfather finally returned and asked him an unusual question. He looked straight into young Lokua's eyes and said, tell me the origins of your name. Before answering, he took a deep breath; from memory, young Lokua noted that my name is the Hawaiian version of JOSHUA, which means " God Delivers." And Mano took over and reminded young Lokua that it provides a fresh update to the classic Joshua, Moses's successor, and the leader of the Israelites.
This peaceful title derives from the Hebrew nation in which
Yehoshua means "God is Salvation."
Mano took Lokua into his arms and said that he had some horrible news to share with him. It was tough for grand-father to keep it together as he likewise lost his whole family and friends. It appears that this was one of those times that Mano wished that the traveling missionary hadn't died from jungle fever a few months back. Mano said, it's time for you to grow up real fast, and then he said to him that our whole family is gone.
Yes, this was undoubtedly a devastating moment, but it was now time to put on his big boy pants. Mano and Lokua were hurting, but it was now time for his grandfather to teach him how to build a new shelter as well as a new life. Time had finally arrived for Mano to share a perception of the rest of the world regarding their people. You see, these folks naturally had giant hearts. They literally would give you whatever requested of them. These were charming and giving people, which made them initially welcoming to those cutthroat pirates who ravaged their village. One can imagine the stress applied as grandfather Mano attempted to raise his grandson full-time, all the time with no one else on the island. Also, he knew that they must prepare a plan as the bad guys may double back sometime soon.
Earlier I mentioned Mano's love for preserving their family history and his love of being in the ocean. He never expressed to his grandson that he was finding it very hard to catch his breath at times. One morning grandfather never woke up, but Lokua was not alone. He was feeling deep sadness, but he had Jesus Christ.
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