Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Pierce (06/05/25)
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TITLE: Cafeteria Battlefield | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ellen Dodson
06/12/25 -
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Since freshman year Mateo had sat at the first table among the eight most popular students. His girl Alyssa and best bro Devin, the only two who knew his struggle with depression, encouraged him over summer break, even as unbelievers, when he attended church and studied Scripture. But when school resumed, a wall went up, one reminding Mateo of Nicodemus, who couldn’t initially understand what Jesus meant when He said we must be “born again” (John 3:3-4). His friends didn’t realize that old Mateo was gone.
Mateo’s first words to God last April as he considered ending his life were “If you’re real, help me.” Experiencing the tangible, healing love of Christ, he didn’t merely read Scripture, he’d devoured it, needing to know more about the God who stooped low to be “pierced” and “crushed” for his “transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). New Mateo adored Jesus.
One-on-one, each of the eight was an okay person, but when they congregated for lunch, they took on one obnoxious mindset. They applauded each other’s athletic and academic achievements but cruelly magnified and mocked the shortcomings of many outside their circle. He didn’t feel superior to them because he’d been the same way and still battled all the temptations they did. In fact, he loved them more because he could see the brokenness beneath their boasts. But how could he maintain these friendships without dishonoring God?
Mateo’s growing silence during lunch annoyed the eight. “Bruh!” Devin flicked a pea at Mateo’s temple when he failed to laugh at Alyssa’s demeaning impression of one of the cheerleaders. “What’s with you, man? You’ve been pouting for days.”
Mateo reached for Alyssa’s hand and flicked the pea back at Devin. “I appreciate a little comic relief, but we graduate in May. Can’t we step it up and get past this juvenile behavior?”
“Go ahead. Preach, church boy.” Devin lifted his hands in surrender. “Listen, if our conversations hurt your feelings, you don’t have to sit with sinners. Honestly, it’ll be a relief.”
Alyssa jerked her hand from Mateo’s and slid closer to Devin.
“I’m not judging. I sin. It’s why I need Him. You don’t understand what–,” He was interrupted with their judgments of him: “extremist,” “beta,” “delusional,” “vibekill,” “hypocrite.”
Yesterday was his first day walking past the eight to the empty back table. He tried to remember that the glares and insults flung in his direction were the enemy’s “fiery darts” meant to pierce and wound. Finally making it to his seat, Mateo mechanically blessed his meal, pulled up Scripture meditations on his phone, and choked down his food.
Today the walk past the eight was easier, and he noticed something he’d missed yesterday—a pair of inquisitive green eyes following him from her solitary spot at a neighboring back table. Those eyes belonged to Delaney Williams—senior most likely to be named valedictorian, subpar member of the swim team, and self-proclaimed white witch. “Greetings, fellow loner,” she called. “Care to join me?”
Unlike Mateo, Delaney wasn’t a victim of peer rejection. She merely chose to study alone while she ate. But sometimes a good human saga distracted her. “So,” she said impishly as she twirled a noodle around her fork, “What’d you do to get kicked out of the cool kids’ club?”
“I became a born again believer in Christ,” he said before accepting the seat she offered and blessing his meal aloud.
He expected her to mock him or move tables, but her demeanor softened. “Mmm. My Dad was a believer; he died when I was two. Mom was a mess, wouldn’t have anything to do with God after that.”
“Aren’t you a, a–”
“A witch?” Delaney laughed. “I only experimented in Wicca, mostly for show in middle school. Like everyone else, I was, am, just trying to figure it all out. It did, however, shape me into a botanist.” She motioned toward the window at the school’s prolific greenhouse. “I’m no easy convert, but I love learning and am particularly curious about my father’s faith. Tell me what I should know about Jesus.”
And with that, in a typical high school cafeteria full of cliques, cliches, and confusion, two honest souls embarked on a series of stimulating discussions about the only topic that ultimately matters.
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