Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Embarrassed (07/19/07)
-
TITLE: A Sheep in Wolf�s Clothing | Previous Challenge Entry
By Brad Paulson
07/26/07 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“Sure Doc, humiliation and embarrassment. I’m also a bit nervous; I’ve never met with a Christian counselor before.”
“I assure you Mr. Wolf you can feel quite safe and comfortable here, you mentioned humiliation and embarrassment, can you elaborate on that?”
“Yeah, well the primary event happened last week. I was in the woods when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, comes this little pig. My watch says it’s about lunch time, so I launch an offensive. The little guy high tails it into a domicile constructed of straw, not a challenge for a big boy like me, so I blow the house to pieces.”
Mr. Wolf paused briefly, his eyes scanning the room to ensure that no one else was listening.
“The little porker got away, but I kept trailing him to his buddy's hovel made out of sticks. I’m thinking this is my lucky day, two for the price of one. So I blow that place apart and, amidst the flying debris, the little sausages get away again. Fortunately, I pick up there trail and follow them to another house, this one was brick. Try as I might I couldn’t blow this joint, so I head up to the roof thinkin’ that I’ll get at ‘em from the chimney. Well, the little jerks were smarter than I thought. As I’m gettin’ myself wedged in the chimney, I feel my pants catchin’ fire. I know flyin’ is for the birds, but I didn’t touch the ground till I landed in a pond a half mile away. Unfortunately that’s when the rest of the pack spotted me. Since then I’ve become a laughing stock”
“So the primary source of your feelings isn’t your failure to devour the pigs, it’s the fact that your wolf pack witnessed your failure.”
“It’s both Doc. I should’ve been bringin’ home the bacon instead of nursing a charred rump roast. I’m embarrassed not only because my buddies know I’m a failure, but I know I’m a failure.”
The doctor scribbled something on his note pad. “Until this event, did you consider yourself a fairly successful wolf?”
“Sure, I suppose”
“Do you really think you should define yourself by one negative event after a successful career?”
“It goes deeper than that Doc, and it wasn’t just one incident. I’m questioning my abilities as a predator and as a pack leader. I’m even questioning my faith, my sense of purpose.”
The doctor leaned back in his chair, “Please continue.”
“Well ever since that day I’m wonderin’ what is God’s plan for me. He makes me this big bad wolf, but right in my prime he humiliates me in front of my peers. I feel betrayed. All I was doin’ was what he created me to do. Not only have I become an ineffective pack leader, but I don’t even think those pigs respect me.” Mr. Wolf slumped back in his chair; the stress was taking its toll.
“Mr. Wolf, please excuse me if this sounds insensitive, but have you considered that you may not be the main character in this story? For this brief moment in history, God may have been unfolding a larger drama and you were only a bit character? Perhaps you played your part exactly the way God wanted. Perhaps the purpose of the story was to bring glory to God through the craftiness of a little pig or the steadfast strength of a brick house. The Bible is full of stories where unexpected heroes emerge from impossible odds. The purpose is not to humiliate or embarrass anybody; the purpose is to glorify God by illustrating that reliance on him is sufficient to overcome difficult situations.”
“So you think those pigs were Christians?”
“I don’t know, and that’s not the point. Until you begin to rely on God for your strength, you will continue to fall short of your expectations. God made you a wild beast, so be a wild beast, but do it for his glory not yours. That’s where you’ll find purpose and satisfaction.”
“So you think it’s okay to continue using these big shiny teeth?”
“Certainly, and what big teeth you have”
“Oh, that reminds me of something else we need to talk about.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
s taken me many years to learn to ask "God what is it you want to teach me in this?" Never would have thought of spiritualizing the story of the big bad wolf. Sorry, didn't mean to sterotype the mc. ;)
I love your title and your ending! Great job. Blessings, Cheri