Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: River (08/31/06)
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TITLE: Somewhere On Another Shore | Previous Challenge Entry
By Brenda Craig
09/03/06 -
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Thoughts of others being here floated cloud-like through my heart. I felt the presence of their journey, encouraging me, wooing me.
Sands sifted between my toes, washing over my feet, cascading in rivulets of brush-like strokes across my skin. Mesmerized by little streams of water springing up with each step, I became oblivious to my previous surroundings.
Was there a yesterday, a today? I didn’t know. I didn’t remember.
Somewhere I was crying; somewhere in the shadows of another shore, now receding, I was beseeching, making way for my journey.
Waters began to whisper, “Come.”
Rivulets from each step converged into trickling streams, splashing my ankles. It was then I noticed a white, linen-like cloth of luminous quality pressing against my legs. My eyes traveled up my form, delighted by the shimmering folds draping, enfolding me, touching my skin like wisps of velvet.
What had happened to my inadequacies, my dryness, my pain? I didn’t know. I didn’t remember. It didn’t matter. Waters were whispering sighs of promised love.
Somewhere on another shore, shadows were fleeing; I was pleading. Somewhere I was interceding, pursuing my journey.
Light radiated with warmth, consuming every portion of me, shining out an incandescent beauty. Rainbows arched, reflecting out of my heart in notes of music appearing as liquid color. Things once invisible to the eye took on discernible life. Inanimate became animate. Scintillating songs of angels filled the atmosphere as I dipped my fingers in iridescent light surrounding me.
Was there a yesterday, a today? I didn’t know. It didn’t matter.
Waters began to sweep me away, speaking softly, “Come.”
Babbling brooks ravished the shore with elegant sweeps of motion, carrying me deeper into its quintessence. Falling in graceful motion, I surrendered to its fluid embrace. Looking back, the shore had disappeared, swallowed by waters now flowing as a river. With eyes drawn to the horizon, to another shore, I became infused with exhilarating joy. My spirit flew in delight, compelled by intense desire to arrive, longing to be joined with something beautiful, something glorious. Dry and cracked places cried, longing to absorb and be absorbed.
Looking up, my breath escaped with sounds of delight. There He was, standing before me; clothed in brilliant folds of pure, white linen, dripping with scarlet beams of radiance. My river became a crystal sea as His hands reached out touching mine. Pulling me forward, He drew me to His side as waters once embracing me lifted me into His presence, whispering, “Go.”
Somewhere on another shore I was being enraptured. Somewhere I was being filled, receiving from the journey where no today, tomorrow or yesterday exists. Only Him!
And He showed me a pure river of Water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
He took my face in His hands, and Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
His voice, sounding like many waters, vibrated through my very being. It sealed every cracked place, saturated every dry bone of life, and filled every void to overflowing with His living water, until it poured forth from my belly. And in a moment the river He is and the river He called me to be—merged.
Somewhere on another shore my journey was ending, yet beginning anew.
Liquid hands pulled me gently. I receded, ebbing from His manifest presence, drifting back, carried away in the manner I came.
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Carpet, plush and soft, feels like sand beneath my feet. Bowing in worship, I can see dewy moisture running across my skin in tiny droplets. And what is a piece of luminous thread doing wrapped around my leg? Remnants?
Was there a yesterday? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter, for… old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.
****
Somewhere on another shore where a river is flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, He is rejoicing.
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Rev22:1 (MKJV)
John 7:37, 38 (MKJV)
2Co 5:17 (KJV)
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"And in a moment the river He is and the river He called me to be—merged."
Oh, what a picture this paints in my mind!
Thank you for the blessing. You lifted me up to a higher place!
As I read, I kept thinking: livingwaterlivingwaterlivingwater.
My favorite line:
"What had happened to my inadequacies, my dryness, my pain? I didn’t know. I didn’t remember. It didn’t matter. Waters were whispering sighs of promised love."
Beautiful imagery. Beautiful message. Beautiful, period. :-)
Congratulations!
I've waited for so long to be able to comment! This is incredible writing -- I can feel the peacefulness of the "river" as we are beckoned to "come"! Poetic prose at its best!
God bless you, my friend, as you continue to grow in your gifts and talents! Very, very well done ... AWESOME!
God bless.