Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Trust and Obey (don't write about the song) (05/21/15)
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TITLE: Go See the Thompsons | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jody Day
05/28/15 -
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Drip, drip, drip. The bathroom sink faucet drove Mary insane. Why else would she have the overwhelming thought, at three in the morning, that she needed to visit the neighbors?
The midnight thunderstorm had jolted her from a deep sleep. Crazy wind scraped tree branches across her bedroom window. The violent rumbling and flashes of light finally settled around two. She'd dozed again, only to be awakened an hour later with the urgent thought to leave the house. Silence, accept for the dripping faucet that she never could remember in the day time.
Drip. 3:01. Drip. 3:02. Drip. 3:03.
Go see the Thompsons.
Maybe sleeplessness wasn't to blame. Could it be the Holy Spirit? What was it Pastor Brown had said?
"Don't be afraid to miss it. It's like anything else. You have to practice. Just trust God and obey the inclination. The more you act on those inclinations, the more you will learn to recognize His voice."
Right. Don't be afraid to miss it. Yeah, like don't be afraid to wake up your elderly neighbors for no good reason? Wait. Maybe they're sick or something. She got up and looked out the window. No lights on across the street.
She just needed sleep. One quick hop to shut the bathroom door and back, then blissful sleep would come.
Or not. The wind picked up again. She searched her mind for more of Pastor Brown's advice.
"The Holy Spirit will never tell you to do something that is against the Word of God."
Okay. Well, it's not against the Word to visit the elderly, but the 'do unto others' thing kind of applies at three in the morning. Definitely would not like a knock at the door at three. Unless I was sick? Or lonely? Maybe scared of the storm?
Go and see the Thompsons. Now.
All right. If she was ever going to grow in this new found faith adventure, she'd trust this voice and obey it. Even if she got struck by lightening walking across the street. Even if she pulled the Thompsons from their nice warm bed. Even if it embarrassed her to death.
Mary dressed quickly and headed out the door. She pushed and stumbled through the violent wind, but a minute or two later she knocked on their door. She pulled her hoodie over wild hair as she waited.
"Mary, is everything all right?" Bob Thompson opened the door, plaid pajamas illuminated in the lightening.
"Well, I, um, are you two okay?"
Bob opened his mouth to speak. A sickening crack sounded behind her. The bolt struck so close that she her body buzzed with electricity.
She whirled around and watched the oak tree in her yard split from top to bottom with a line of fire. The half closest to her house fell with a crash, smashing her bedroom to smithereens. The blazing tree soon caught the rubble on fire.
Later, as she stood on the Thomspon's lawn watching firemen put out the fire, Kay Thompson wrapped her in a blanket, and Bob handed her a mug of hot tea.
"What made you come over and knock? It certainly saved you."
Mary's brain refused to form words, but her mind ran wild. What if she hadn't listened to that still, small voice? She looked at the Thompsons with wide, wondering eyes.
"Just give thanks, my dear," Kay said.
Yes. Thank you, Lord. Thank you so much.
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