The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: The Deep End (03/06/14)
Phoebe's face had gone pale and Priscilla was filled with compassion. She reached and clutched her sister's hand with both of her own. Phoebe did not pull away, but stood motionless, stoic, uncomfortably quiet.

"We can still be close - this doesn't change my love for you, we're sisters," Priscilla urged a response.

Phoebe lifted her eyes to Priscilla's and seemed to comprehend some deep truth for the first time. She said, "Silla, you are serious? He's insisting that you do this with him?"

Priscilla looked at her sister levelly and answered carefully. "We are husband and wife, we are one. You know that - you were at our wedding."

Phoebe shook her head. "Yes, yes, of course, but - that's not what I meant. I mean, I'm trying to say...sometimes a wife can find a way to ...to ...be what she wants - when he's not looking, of course.

Priscilla dropped her sister's hand and looked at her in complete confusion. "What are you saying? Exactly what do you mean?"

"I'm asking you, begging you really, do you have to follow this 'New Way' just because your 'man' is?" Phoebe blurted out.

"Oh." Priscilla considered her next words very carefully - they would be heavy on her sister's ears, but they needed to be said. "Phoebe, you misunderstand, it is I who introduced him, my 'man' as you say, to 'taste and see' and he has seen that the Lord is good."

A look of surprise and disgust crossed Phoebe's face. She alighted on a new idea as it entered her mind and threw it out at her sister. "So, you have done as that other wife who, at the dawn of time, offered poison to her husband, too!"

Priscilla had not expected such a remark. "No, no, surely not! I wouldn't do that!"

"But it seems you already have," Phoebe drawled. "and as I think about it," she continued, "This is so like you. The world is full of trifles that 'taste good'. Most of us are smart enough to not get carried away. We try a little here, take a nibble there, visit a new place and sample the ways there. We can do a little of 'this' and a little of 'that'. It hurts no one and it gives a girl a chance to experience the world's pleasures. This is what you should be doing. But not you, you can't just dabble in the shallows, you always have to jump in to the deep end."

Priscilla backed away from Phoebe, looking at her in disbelief.

"Oh, for heaven's sake sister." Phoebe closed the distance between them in one step and shook Priscilla by the shoulders. "Grow up! Stop looking at the world through the eyes of a child. Don't make such a dramatic change! Do you want to be labeled a fanatic? Do you want to be cast out of your church? Away from God? Is that really what you want?"

"No, no, not away from God - that's not how it would be,"Priscilla shook her head. "I have heard Him, Jesus He's called. He is gentle. He speaks of love and patience, forgiveness and acceptance. He gives me rest and peace. He welcomes all and He helps us to draw near to God. He is a glory to God and He makes me want to be like Him."

Phoebe answered. "Silla, you are silly as your name. I have heard Him, too. He's a dramatist and a rebel. He sees problems and makes them worse. He fosters division, He breaks the Commandments; He comes very close to blasphemy. Why, when I heard him speak, I was afraid He was going to jump right down from His podium and land in my lap and accuse me of things that no woman should ever be accused of."

Priscilla spoke again, a tear trickling down her cheek. "When I heard Him speak, He comforted me. He told me it didn't matter to Him, what I have done before, He would not accuse, but only forgive me in my brokenness... and present me worthy and clean...to God. No, I do not want to just 'dabble in the shallows'. If this is 'jumping in to the deep end', then let me do it. I cannot live any other way!"
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 504 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Toni Hammer
03/15/14
I enjoyed this very much. You did a fabulous job showing how one's heart effects what one hears. I felt the tension, sadness, and joy equally. Great work.
Beth LaBuff 
03/19/14
You portrayed these sisters realistically. Each ones thoughts made complete sense and got me thinking along both sides of the debate. I love your ending. Super work!
Ellen Carr 
03/19/14
This is a great take on the topic and you capture well what it might have been like for a contemporary follower of Jesus. Great writing!
Just one 'red ink' comment: perhaps it would have been better to use 'synagogue' instead of 'church' in this sentence, to fit the era of the story: 'Do you want to be cast out of your church?'
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/21/14
Congratulations for ranking 21 overall! Happy Dance!!