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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Black (10/15/09)
A Click Away

Jim’s computer monitor emitted an eerie glow, the only light in an otherwise dark dorm room. He looked at the time in the corner of his computer screen – past midnight. No wonder he was so tired. He read his freshman English essay one more time before saving it, then decided to check e-mail before heading for bed.

Ah, another crazy e-mail forward from his friend, Lou, whose “naughty uncle” sent him lots of hilarious, albeit edgy, stuff off the web which Lou felt led to pass on to all his friends. This one had the title, “You gotta read this – too funny!” in the subject line. Well, he could sure use a good laugh after working so hard on that essay.

He clicked on the link inside the e-mail. Whoa! Um, this was NOT funny. Photos of gorgeous scantily clad women in provocative poses filled the screen. What in the world was Lou thinking sending him this stuff? With a racing heart and a backward glance to double check that his roommate was still asleep, he quickly moved the cursor to the bright X in the upper right corner of the monitor. But the pictures seemed to grab hold of the mouse and slow down his flight instinct.

He found himself pausing…just pausing, that was all. A few seconds couldn’t hurt…

Jim made a valiant effort to look away from the screen, where his eyes landed on a 3 x 5 card he had taped to the wall next to his computer at the beginning of the semester. Now he almost wished he hadn’t.

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.” Psalm 101:3

He’d chosen that verse back in high school - as a sort of “gatekeeper” for his eyes. He knew the dangers, he’d been warned. Still, he’d never felt such an inward struggle. The photos on the monitor waged war against the Word he had hidden in his heart. It was the age-old battle that had been around since Adam and Eve had first caught a glimpse of the forbidden fruit.

Jim looked once more at the card, took a deep breath and moved the cursor to the X.

“Ex” … exit…escape…

Another verse popped into his head,

“God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:12,13

Click.

There. It was done. And for good measure he reached over and pushed the off button on the monitor. He now sat in total darkness, except for the monitor that was quickly changing from dark gray to black.

Amazing how black had suddenly become such a pure and beautiful color … and it had been just a click away.
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This article has been read 1046 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Eric Ringle
10/22/09
A very important topic that needs to be brought into the "light". This is addictive and destructive to individuals as well as families. Good write, the surprise of the enemy, the struggle and the victory for this young man.
Jan Ackerson
10/26/09
Very good--would be a great discussion starter for a teen or college-age group.
Allen Stark
10/27/09
Excellent use of the theme word. How many of us are qualified to write from the same perspective?
Aaron Morrow
10/27/09
I really appreciated this entry, a very realistic feel to to it and great take on the topic as benign.

Excellent work!
Marie Fink
11/02/09
Great interpretation of the assignment. God turns the world's ways upside down all the time and I see that you have done so here with black being pure and beautiful, keeping the heart clean when it could have gone the other way so easily.