The Way | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Way | Previous Challenge Entry
By Yvonne Blake
10/21/15
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I was lost. The darkness pressed around me—its smokiness choking me and distorting the way. For years I’d been content to amble aimlessly about, but I was tired, and my muddled mind sought answers. I finally admitted my l helplessness. I was lost.

That’s when I saw the flicker of light.

It was strange. The more I tried to find the illusive light, the harder the path became. Roots tripped me, weeds crowded the path, and a cacophony of noises filled the air. I lifted my arms to the sky. “Help! Help! Can anyone hear me? Help me!” With tears of hopelessness, I stumbled forward and tripped on a hiker’s pack.

I glanced about for its owner but didn’t see anyone. I dug into the pack’s depths. It was full of interesting objects—a mirror. I rubbed the smudged glass and scowled at my dirty face. There was also a lamp, two flat rocks, a jar of oil, a bottle of water, some kind of bread, and . . . I clasped and drew out a double-edged sword. Whoa! What would I need this for? At the very bottom, I found a journal. Flipping through its pages, I could barely read its ancient words. “Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?” Tucked in the back cover was a folded paper—a map! It was marked in gold letters, SHEKINAH KINGDOM. I clasped it to my heart. Too long I had wandered in ignorance and darkness. How it got there, I didn’t care. Perhaps it would help me find my way to the light.

Replacing all, except the lamp, the map, and the sword, I shouldered the pack and resumed my search. Swinging the sword, I hacked at the tangled weeds. The lamp and the map confirmed that I was on the right track.

After a few hours, I came to a muddy river. When I touched the water with the sword to test its depth, it became clear as glass. I needed a bridge or stepping stones. Stones! I pulled one of flat stones from my pack and set it in the water. To my amazement, it didn’t sink, but grew downward to the river bottom. I stepped upon it. It didn’t shift in the current. I placed the second stone ahead of me and stepped upon it. With no more stones, I turned and picked up the first one, which became surprisingly small again in my hand. Step by step I crossed the flowing waters.

I walked for hours. The sky brightened, and I was hungry. Soon I came to a junction, with a sign—CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY. One path curved away, with a smooth road and shady fruit trees. The other continued straight ahead, but it looked rocky and led down into a dark misty valley. I gazed down the easy road. My stomach grumbled. I was confused. Which one is right? Again I lifted my face to the sky, “Help me! I don’t know what to do.”

A breeze fluttered the paper in my hand. Of course, my map! To my dismay, the way to the Shekinah Kingdom led down the rocky path. I turned my back on the tempting fruit and slowly picked my way down into the mist. Trying to hurry through this eerie place, I twisted my foot and gashed my knee on the jagged rocks. The contents of the pack scattered across the path. As I put the objects back, I noticed the little bottle of oil. “Apply to wounds. Rest before moving.” The healing balm soothed the stinging pain.

Sipping the sweet water and munching on the bread, I skimmed through the journal while waiting for my leg to heal. “A man’s heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps.” Forgetting my injury, I read through a whole section of wise sayings. Where once this book seemed mysterious, it now made perfect sense.

The mists dissipated, and the path rose before me. It was still rough and narrow, but with each step, I gained new energy. At the pinnacle, the world stretched out around me. I saw others wandering about, lost in the mists, as I had been. I shouted, but they neither heard nor saw me. I longed to tell them of the path to the Shekinah Kingdom. I knew the King had found me and guided me thus far. I knew He would lead me all the way.

•(KJV - Job 28:20, Joshua 14:15, Proverbs 16:9)

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