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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: LOVE (agape and/or phileo) (03/12/15)
Wild-eyed and dishevelled, he roamed the streets and alleys peering in the doorways, tearing at his hair, distraught and distracted.

"I'm looking for Love. I've lost it. Has it left? Is it hiding? Has it gone forever? "

Hedon looked over his tankard and gave a snigger. "Still looking, old man? No luck yet? Try the whore house. There's plenty will love you there, for a fee."

"Oh, help me, help me please. I'm looking for Love. I've lost my love. Has the whole world grown cold?" His hands shook, causing his matted locks to tremble around his face as he staggered on.

"Come in here, wild man, and learn from me." A fat man in a business suit sat at a table. A girl sat on his lap; men hovered, fawning around him. Money bags littered the table. "Make your fortune and the world will love you. Look at you, penniless old beggar. Who will love you like that?"

A haunting wail left the old man's lips. "Oh-oh-oh-oh, the pain. Who will help me? Who can lead me to Love?"

A pretty young lady, barefoot, in a flowing gown and with flowers in her hair, sauntered up to him. She put a flower in his bedraggled mane and kissed him playfully on the nose. "You don't need to look for love. You are love. Love is the god in you. He lives in each of us. Just let it out and you'll find Love.

The old man threw himself on the floor, beating the ground. "Will no-one tell me where to find Love? Love has deserted us. The world is cold."

"Come with me, old hermit." A tall man with a kind face and a long pony tail pulled him to his feet. "I'll show you where to find it." He took him to the country and showed him flowing mountain streams, a pure white lily, snow covered peaks, a soaring eagle. "Look," he said, "at the beauty that surrounds you. In that beauty you'll find Love."

"I see it," the old man cried, his voice sobbing in despair, "but it's remote; it's distant. I don't feel it. I can't find it. I've lost it in the coldness of men's hearts." He hid his face in his hands and his body shook.

For a long time he sat there, shaking. Then a small voice said, "Why are you crying mister?" A little girl stood beside him. As she laid her hand on his shoulder, a glimmer of light touched his soul.

"I've lost Love. It's left this dark world and no-one can find it."

"I'll take you to it." The pure innocence of her voice made him rise. "Come," she said, "we must climb a hill to find Love."

"What is your name?"

She smiled sweetly. "My name is Grace. I'm the one who takes people to Love." She was thoughtful beyond her years as they trudged upward. "I must warn you, love is costly."

"I have no money."

It won't cost you, but it comes at great price."

"Then who will pay?"

At that moment they crested the hill and he stopped in his tracks. At his feet was a man so disfigured he scarcely looked human. Blood oozed and congealed on lacerated flesh; rivulets of scarlet trickled from his brow down a swollen, bruised face.

The girl pointed, her voice trembling. "He will."

The battered man lay on a cross. A bleeding hand was outstretched, a nail poised at its wrist.

"No!' the old man cried, "Stop. Who did this?"

Grace looked at him steadily. "You did...... He's paying the price for your love."

"No. No. Don't do it. I'm not worth this." His eyes were wide, his mouth contorted.

"He thinks you are." The hammer struck the nail. Sinews and nerves split as the man convulsed in pain.

Bewildered, the old man cried out, "This is love? This ugliness? This horror?"

Then realisation struck. He's doing it for me. His face shone with light and a warm peace flooded his soul. "Yes," he said, "this is true love. Love for me. True beauty in the midst of all this gore."

Tenderly, he laid his shaggy head on the torn, bleeding breast, weeping with the love that filled his heart.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.." 1 John 3:16
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This article has been read 2062 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
03/20/15
A very intense read with a strong message at the close. Well done.

God bless~
Yvonne Blake 
03/25/15
wow! I like the allegorical feel to this. Well done!
C D Swanson 
03/26/15
Congrats!
God bless~
Loni Bowden-Horn 
03/27/15
This was an moving piece about Christ's love. It brought tears to my eyes when I pictured how costly the gift of salvation was.
Michael Edwards 
03/27/15
Wow Dave!

Awesome article. It appears that your recent times of trying have birthed an even better writer. The characters in your story that pointed the wrong direction, reminded me of when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness and was not swayed. As we walk in the wilderness these characters appear to us on a regular basis trying to point us in the wrong direction. I am thankful that Jesus was not tempted because I so often have been.

Blessings, Mike
Pauline Carruthers
03/29/15
Your description of true agape love shown clearly in the crucifixion just filled me with awe. I feel you captured the true essence of the love of Jesus amidst the horror of His agony on the cross.An absolutely worthy winner.
Lois Lewis
03/29/15
Great description. Engrossing read. Great message. Congratulations!
Beth LaBuff 
04/01/15
What exquisite, haunting, grace-filled words of love. Your creativity is off the charts. Many congrats on your weekly AND quarterly wins!
Tommy Cloherty
04/01/15
A superb and sobering, carefully crafted piece of writing. Thank you
Allen Povenmire
04/01/15
Magnificent piece of writing! Very deserving of first place. The descriptiveness is off the charts.
Congratulations. .
Trace Pezzali
04/02/15
Oh wow! That is fantastic! Beautifully, relevantly, fascinatingly well done. I loved how you covered the major world views, and how we search for love and it seems it is lost, and then we discover its source and epitome is Christ. Really excellent story. A wonderful read.
Adele Butler
04/02/15
This was absolutely beautiful. It grabbed and held my interest. You did a wonderful job of showing what people or rather, the world views as love but in the end the love that we should be seeking and will find if we seek it with all our heart, is the love of Christ. How could we not respond to such love, as this seeker did? Thank you for this literary masterpiece. God bless.
Charla Diehl
04/04/15
Congratulations on taking first place with this beautifully written piece. The clarity of your message rings throughout this story and needs to be read by the world. Thank you.