Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: At Wit’s End (02/13/14)
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TITLE: The Church Slogan Project | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wendy B McLain
02/20/14 -
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“Andy, I really don’t have time to go over all that with you right now, but I would like to get your opinion on one.”
Jan grabbed her notebook and pen and sat down next to Andy. She wrote the word AWE.
Andy read the word and guessed what phrases might fit for the acronym. “Are We Eager? Andy Was Enthralled? Alliances Win . . .”
“Andy, I already have the phrase in mind for this word. See this next word I’m writing beside it.”
Andy looked down at the paper as Jan was writing, “It’s the same word.”
“Yes, but it’s spelled in lowercase letters a-w-e.” Jan was following the letters with her pen while she explained.
“Okay, and your point?” Andy gave Jan a quirky look wondering where this was all going.
“Well, let me ask you a question. How does a person come to the place where he or she is in awe of God?” Anticipating that Andy would ask what awe meant, she thumbed through her dictionary for the definition.
Andy asked, “Doesn’t awe mean, like wonder, amazement or reverential fear?”
“Yes it does, here’s the exact definition: A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. And so, how does a person begin to feel that way about God?”
“Well, speaking for myself, I had to come undone. I had to hit rock bottom.”
Jan nodded her head in agreement, “I believe most people do. They have to come to the end of themselves. What I’m trying to do is come up with a slogan for the church’s revival next week.”
She continued writing while explaining to Andy. “I see so many people these days totally living for self. Self-gratification, self-exaltation, self-esteem, self-ambition, self-love, self-will, I mean the list goes on and on.”
Jan pushed the notebook toward Andy. “Here, read this and think on it a few minutes then we’ll discuss it. In the meantime, I’ll make us some iced tea.”
Andy read the words on the notepad silently. One must come to AWE inwardly before they can reflect the awe of God outwardly.
“One must come to AWE inwardly . . . What does that mean, Jan?”
Jan walked to the table with two glasses of iced tea and sat down. “Well, the acronym AWE stands for, At Wit’s End. Until people surrender their own wit to the Lord they won’t be able to experience the awe of God.”
Andy looked puzzled. “I thought wit meant funny. Like, someone who joked a lot.”
Jan chuckled, “It does mean that, but it also means keen intelligence. Like I said earlier, many people these days are so into self-aggrandizement. People who don’t know the Lord personally will never recognize their intelligence is due only to a loving God who gave it to them. They must come to understand their intelligence and wisdom amounts to nothing without Christ.”
“Okay, I get that, but how will people at the revival know what that sentence means? I mean it’s kind of vague.”
“Thanks Andy. You’re a great sounding board. Perhaps you’re right. It may be too vague right now, so it’s back to the drawing board . . .”
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Great work!
God bless~
I don't have any red ink to offer, but in Jan's writing class for this week she recommended against starting a piece with dialogue. It can make readers feel like they're walking in on a conversation. You might find the lesson very interesting.
I look forward to reading your entry for next week. Great job on creating a fun story with a deep message.