Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Chase (05/01/25)
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TITLE: Hugged By the Bear | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wilma Schlegel
05/08/25 -
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“Hey Sonny,” Bruce Bellows, bellowed out his name. “Don’t you think a little kid like you should stay out of the woods? Don’t you remember 'The Teddy Bears'Picnic'?” he taunted. “There are bears in that woods, you know?” He gave a mock shudder, leaning in toward Sonny. “Only not teddy bears. They’re Ursus Horribilises and they’ll be having a picnic alright when they get to taste a weeny kid like you!”
Sonny’s eyes got big. He gulped.
Bruce and his two buddies, Riecker Lankenau and Jack Clackman, shared some raucous laughter. Bruce shoved Sonny hard enough that Sonny fell.
“Aw, come on, don’t fall down. I’m just giving you some guidance.” Bruce laughed.
It was three weeks before Sonny went back into the woods. Sure enough, he saw bear tracks near the river. Then he heard the sounds - cracking twigs, crunching leaves, and rasping heavy breathing. Sonny was scared.
Afterward, when Bruce and his buddies taunted him again, Sonny told them.
“I didn’t look. I didn’t have to. I took off and I knew it was chasing me. It kept chasing me and I kept running – as fast as I could. I ran and ran and ran until the only sounds I heard were my own feet and the only breathing was mine. I turned around and there was no bear in sight. I must’ve outrun it.”
Bruce, Riecker and Jack about split their sides laughing.
But the funny thing to Sonny was that after that they seemed to lose interest in taunting him.
Sixty years passed. Sonny was asked to offer the prayer at his class’s fiftieth high school reunion.
“Holy Father,” he prayed. “It is an honor to give you thanks for the abundant meal my class and I are about to share. I thank you for this chance to be together. Please bless this food and then protect each one as we travel home again. I pray this and give all glory, and honor to your only Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen”.
Sonny fully enjoyed the delicious meal and the camaraderie of the classmates he’d known before he’d followed to serve where the Lord had led.
Then came an unanticipated moment, a fearful moment for Sonny. There, approaching him was Bruce Bellows, still strong and intimidating looking. Sonny wished he could run from this bear, but he knew the chase would end differently this time. He prayed silently, “What is this, Lord? Is he offended that I gave you thanks in this mixed company? Please help.”
“Hey, Sonny,” the big man was close now. He took hold of Sonny’s shoulder. “Remember that bear?”
Sonny slowly, deliberately let out the breath he was holding. “Yeah, I do.” He smiled lightly, uncertainly.
“I thought you would.” Bruce dropped his hand. He glanced down at his shoes. When he looked back up, he said, “That was a great prayer. Thank you. It took some guts to stand in front of us all and give credit to the Lord.”
Sonny’s heart beat a little faster. Where was this going?
Bruce hesitantly continued. “I just wanted to tell you that I respect you... I met the Lord a few years ago. It changed things. And I’m grateful.” Bruce looked away, swallowing, as if trying to regain his momentum. He looked at Sonny again. “And something else – I always wanted to tell you – I don’t know if there was ever a bear or not but even back then, I couldn’t believe you went out there alone, knowing you could meet up with a bear, but you still did it. Man, you were the bravest kid I knew and I always after that admired you. I only wish I’d had the guts to let you know back then.”
Sonny was speechless. He knew his eyes had gotten big again. What to say to this? Thank you, Jesus, was his immediate reactionary thought. He dipped his chin. He extended his hand.
Bruce took that hand and pulled Sonny into a huge bear hug.
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“If the devil tells you something is too fearful to look at, look at it. If he says something is too terrible to hear, hear it. If you think some truth unbearable, bear it.” - G. K. Chesterton
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13
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