Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: GREEN (01/19/17)
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TITLE: Seasoning | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dennis Gallemore
01/25/17 -
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The gigantic electric motor powering the saw shutting down, the blade slowly spun to a stop. Grinning, Bud stepped out of the sawyer's elevated control booth, lunch box in hand. “Lunch time, Jason! Second best time of the workday, eh?”
Laughing, Jason nodded. “Yeah, boss dude, it is.” Sitting down on a stack of lumber, Jason opened his lunchbox.
Bud sat beside him. Pouring coffee from a thermos, Bud eyed Jason. “So, how are things going for you, Jason?”
Chewing his bologna sandwich, Jason studied the sawmill's concrete floor. “Okay, I guess. I was on the Inside for five very long years. It's just so much different being on the Outside again. Don't get me wrong; wild horses couldn't drag me back in there. It's just that people treat me differently now.” Glancing sideways at Bud, he quickly added, “Not you, Boss dude; you treat me just like you did before I went to prison.” Shaking his head, he swallowed another bite of sandwich. “I still don't know why you hired me when I got out.”
“Because I try to look at people the way Jesus would, son. You did the crime, but you also did your time. It's over and done with. That's why I first started talking to you about Him. You're starting a new life on the Outside, so now's a great time to start living a new life with Him on the inside.”
Jason shook his head. “I'm really struggling, Boss. I do well some days and not so well on others. I go a day or two without cussing and then I'm right back at it. I read the Bible for a few days, and then I don't for a week or two. I go to church two weeks in a row, and then I don't go at all for a month. It's like I take one step forward then two steps back.”
“That's all right, Jason, you're new to this. For many people, it takes a little getting used to. Just be patient, and don't give up walking with Him.”
Finishing off his sandwich, Jason sighed. “Why can't I be like you, Boss dude? You've always got your...stuff together.”
“I've been at this a long time, son.” Waving at the stacks of lumber around them, Bud smiled. “Look at all of this lumber that we sawed today. It's green; there's still a lot of water in it. Why can't we use it to build furniture right now?”
Biting into a cookie, Jason wiped his mouth. “Because it would warp and crack as it dried out.”
“That's right. Green lumber is unseasoned. After drying, the wood is much stronger, and it won't warp. The lumber has to go through a time of seasoning. After that, it's ready to be used in the building of beautiful furniture. You, Jason, are going through your own time of seasoning. I know it's tough; I've been there, believe me. In fact, I'm still being seasoned. There will always be trials, tribulations, and temptations. It never really ends.”
Chewing thoughtfully, Jason nodded. “Yeah, I guess it doesn't. When I was in prison, it took quite a while to get used to it. I was pretty green at first.”
Bud nodded. “Sure. Everyone struggles, but if we want to become more than we are today, we can, but we will go through times of trouble. How we handle them determines how strong and durable we will become.”
Placing a hand on Jason's shoulder, Bud smiled. “Now that we've finished lunch, can I pray with you?”
Jason nodded. “Yeah, that's cool. Can we pray that I will be seasoned?”
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Btw I really like the character's name Jason...that is a good strong name.
Blessings~