Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Purposefulness (Purpose in Life) (05/25/06)
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TITLE: An Unexpected Witness | Previous Challenge Entry
By Julie Michaelson
05/29/06 -
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Hebrew at my snyagogue. I had just met a new friend, on the first
day of first grade of public school. Her name was Lynn, and she had
invited me to play dolls at her house.
We were in her room, talking with our Barbies, and playing house.
I noticed a little picture book on her bed table. I picked it up, and
opened to the first page.
"Who's this?" I remember looking up at my friend.
"That's Jesus." Lynn said. She seemed very surprised, and stared at
me. "That our Savior, Jesus Christ."
"I've heard about Jesus." I said, turning to another page. It was a
colorful picture of Him, holding a lamb, and walking through an open field.
I lived in the city, and liked pictures of the country.
"Wasn't He born on December 25th? Don't you have Christmas at your
house that day?"
"Yes. Don't you?" Again, Lynn stared at me.
"No." I shook my head. I kept turning the little pages, and looking at the
pictures of the Man called Jesus. I didn't know who He was. But, I
knew that He had a special holiday in December. The Jews had a
special holiday in December, too. It was called Channukah, but I didn't
think it had anything to do with Jesus.
Or, did it?
"Lynn, why do you call Him, the.......what's that, again?" I screwed up my face,
and the big glasses tilted on my nose.
"The Savior. Jesus the Savior!" Lynn sounded impatient. She picked up
the little book, and tossed it on her bed. "Come on, let's go back to
Barbies! I want to play some more!" She grabbed my hand, and we
flopped down on the floor, picking up our Barbie dolls. It was 1962, and
our dolls all had pill-box hats, and dresses - just like Jackie Kennedy.
"Lynn, what's a........savior?" I smoothed the little dress of my Midge doll.
She was a friend of Barbie's, and had freckles on her nose, and her
brown hair was in a flip.
"Uhm. It's Jesus. Jesus Christ." Lynn moved her Barbie up and down
the carpet. "Hey, Midge! Let's go for a walk, and have some ice cream!"
We both started giggling. Midge and Barbie trotted up and down the floor,
their high heeled shoes digging into the green carpet. The little picture book,
with Jesus the Savior, was forgotten.
But, whenever I would go to visit my friend, Lynn, I would look for her little
books about the Man, Jesus. He was very curious to me, this Man.
One day, Lynn asked me if I would like to go to church with her.
"Hm....I don't think so. I better not." I shook my head. I was afraid
to ask my parents. I knew that they wouldn't like it.
But, Lynn kept asking me. And, some years later, when I was about
eleven, my parents let me go. It was now 1967, and there was a young
man, with long hair, playing a guitar at the church. It was all very
strange to me. But, I liked it, and wanted to come again. So, I did, though
just once in a while. After all, I was Jewish, and it wasn't my religion.
Then, Lynn's parents, one year, divorced. She moved away to live with
her father, and our Barbies got pushed back into our closets. The little
picture books did, too.
And, I didn't go to church again, at least, not for many years.
But, I think that Jesus was waiting for me, because I never forgot His
Face. He was waiting on my doorstep, and I never knew.
I never knew, until one day, I was bereft, and grieving, and alone.
And, somehow, I knew to call out to Him. And, He was there.
It was like He had been waiting for me, all that time, since the moment
I had picked up the little book. It had been such a tiny moment in time,
and yet, I've often wondered at its purpose.
For, my little friend didn't even want me looking at her book. She
just liked playing Barbies, and after all, it wasn't even Sunday. Why
was I being such a bore?
So, you see, sometimes, you can save a life - without even meaning to.
And, isn't that the best purpose of all?
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