Standing On My Knees | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Standing On My Knees | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lisa Hudson
04/16/15
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Standing On My Knees

The hot sun was blazing down on us, scorching our weary eyes that were already stinging from the swirling sand. Mercifully, once in a while, the wind would change and blow a cool breeze over my face and around my neck. Every time I tried to bend my head forward hoping the coolness would find a hiding place down the back of my drenched shirt, my guard would grab a handful of my hair and yank my face upward. There was no mistaking the coolness of his blade against my parched throat.

What were they waiting for? I never imagined in my lifetime that I would be in a situation like this, yet here I am. I am numb, yet I can feel the hunger in my belly and my knees hurt from kneeling so long on the rocky sand beneath me. I am so thirsty for a cool drink of water, but my mouth remains sealed shut. My eyes are still burning, and I know in my heart that if I could cry, it might ease the pain just a little bit, but I cannot allow myself to show tears. Not now.

There was a time when I would have called this man with the knife, my brother. We grew up in the same village, and our fathers knew each other well. Family was always so important to all of us, and our faith was the glue that held us all together. How did we end up on opposite sides of this earthly life? I had gone away for my college studies, enjoying the freedom that came with seeing other parts of the world and learning new ideas. I made friends with a young man who was a Christian missionary. It wasn’t long before his joy was contagiously affecting me, and I wanted to know from who or where it came. I was introduced to the true Son of God, Jesus, and I have never been the same.

Upon returning from school, I was absolutely terrified to say anything about my new Friend, for I knew it could mean losing my friends, my family, and yes, even my life. It was as if God would send messengers to me through other young people like myself, or He would speak to me in my dreams, reassuring me that He was with me always. He would lead me to scriptures in the bible that would calm my fears, or give me peace at moments when I was so desperately afraid and alone. He reminded me of how frightened Jesus must have been when he was being led to be crucified. It was then, when I found my courage. I decided at that moment that if Jesus was willing to lay down His life for me, then I could do no less.

About five men were kneeling beside me to my left and another dozen or so were kneeling to my right. Each had his own guard standing behind him, while their massive hands squeezed clumps of our hair until it nearly came out of the scalp. All at once, the guard that had been doing all of the talking into the video camera started shouting and raising his knife. In just seconds, I could hear them all start to yell as they brought their steel blades down to our throats, and started cutting, sawing their blades back and forth across our necks. Some guards would pause long enough for those of us on our knees to see the carnage and horror that was soon to be our own.

Finally, as my numb body started to give way, I fell backward on the sand. I could see the blue sky above me, and I felt the coolness of the breeze wash over me. I couldn’t help but smile at the relief I was feeling. I could feel the blood draining from my body, but it was as if all of the cares of this world and all of the pain I was feeling drained away as well, making me feel as light as the clouds above me. It was then that I saw Him, with his hand extended toward me. He was laughing… a joyous laugh… a welcoming laugh. I was finally going home.

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