Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: TRUST (07/21/16)
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TITLE: The Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pamela Bryan
07/28/16 -
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When it came time for Sunday prayer, William knew exactly what he wanted. He wanted a washer and dryer, not for himself, but for the family three houses down. Oh, it wasn’t that he didn’t have needs for himself. But the five young daughters of his neighbors had sweet smiles and eyes that reminded him of his nine year old girl. His heart went out to them; especially when he learned of their laundering need. So that morning in April specific prayer was lifted up to the One who knows the location of all washers and dryers and those who are in need of them.
William hadn’t been to our church in nearly ten years. Then he had longed for a wife and family. So he reached for it on his own, lingering over the bite of an apple that sparkled like diamonds, whose sweetness dripped as nectar. Even the strong warning of his friends and our elders couldn’t dissuade him from racing to her for the elusive elixir. When at last his eyes were opened, daily regret and bitterness settled in. Now for William, diamonds have turned to dust. We welcomed him back this year when he got in touch with us again. Each Sunday morning Pastor Dana drives thirty minutes one way to pick up William in an area of town where metal bars cover most windows.
In late June a call came to Pastor Dana. “I’m moving and have a washer and dryer to give someone. Do you know anyone who could use it?” William had his answer. He couldn’t wait for delivery day! He went to tell his neighbor Juan that a laundry gift would be coming and would arrive on Saturday. Juan blinked back tears. What William didn’t know was that Juan had lost the five toes on one foot to Diabetes. He’d also had a stroke last year. The scars on his back indicated some kind of spinal surgery. Difficult didn’t begin to describe their life. A washer/ dryer had been moved to the “luxury” column and just didn’t get figured into the family budget. Juan’s gratitude was palpable.
The plan unfolded that Pastor Dana and friend Dennis would pick up the set in Dennis’s truck bed and drive up to meet William at Juan’s home. However, before the day of the delivery William learned that a friend had arranged for him to display his art. Being desperate for money and needing to show his work, William chose the Art Show. Pastor Dana and Dennis got to witness five little smiles and one deeply grateful dad. A wide eyed Juan heard about the prayer request and subsequent answer from the delivery duo. William phoned Pastor to hear first hand every detail. His friend Craig was with him. He’d organized the showing and now wanted to thank William’s friend. “Pastor Dana, thank you for all that you’ve done for William. I’d like to come to your church tomorrow. I want to worship with you. Can you pick me up too?”
Trust is confident expectation. It’s sometimes heard audibly in group intercession. Other times it’s unspoken in the heart of a pastor who believes that a two hour drive each Sunday is worthwhile, even for one man who complains and rails against life for much of the ride. Occasionally trust begins to blossom as a succulent seed that grows as five pair of little eyes witness a miracle gift for their mother. When trust is reintroduced to a sickly dad, he smiles through tears realizing the groaning of a parent wanting to provide for his family has surely been heard.
But for William, trust had been relegated to a fading vision in his rear view mirror ten years ago. His own choices had brought the subsequent pain because of his wide eyed decision not to trust, ignoring His Savior’s words of life. Returning now to his church family and to the One worthy of all trust, he is recalibrating his life. Today William will tell you there is ONE who is to be obeyed. ONE alone deserves our humble devotion. The price of life lessons is steep. But higher and richer are the moments of sustainable satisfaction when we obey. Now William has stepped out in active trust, not for himself alone, but for others. Jesus must be smiling!
Non-fiction
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