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Topic: Rejection (11/15/04)
TITLE: The Life Style of Rejection By Michael Wilmot 11/17/04 |
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It is recess time and they are picking teams for dodge ball. I like playing dodge ball at home so I run over to the group. The two team captains are taking turns getting their members. The group is getting small, and now there are only three left, then two then me. “Sorry dude the teams are even. Maybe next time” says one captain. I go away and swing by myself.
There is Julie and she is so pretty. We sit next to each other in three classes and she is always nice to me. I heard her talk about that new scary movie that just came out and my Dad is letting me use the car this Friday. I move next to her and say good morning. She smiles and says Hi. Just as I ask her if she wants to go to the movie with me Steve walks up and puts his arm around her shoulder. “Sorry but I am already going with Steve” she says. I go away but I never did see that movie.
I was listening to the radio today, just flipping around the stations. There was this guy talking about that Jesus person. “Jesus loves you and wants to share your life with him!” he cries. I know better and switch back to the Country station.
This is my eighth job interview this week. I hear a lot of good reasons why I am not good enough but I think they even read my resume. I know I can do this work but if no one gives me a chance how am I going to prove it? “Sorry the position has just been filled”, says the receptionist. I go away and keep reading the want adds.
My wife is nagging me to go to church with her. Ever since she started hanging out with that Jesus freak down the street she is totally different. When she looks at me I can see disappointment in her eyes. I thought she loved me but now all she does is tell me about what a sinner I am and how I need to change. “I learned the hard way that life is hard and you just do the best you can” I tell her. She leaves and goes to church without me.
I finally gave in and to keep peace in the house I went to church with my wife. The people are nice the coffee is bad. I sat through the sermon and tried not to fall asleep as he droned on about someone or something I could care less about. “Thanks for coming!” he says shaking my hand as we parade out. My wife is going to Bible Study. I go home and watch the game.
I have been sitting in the same pew for about a year and today the pastor was talking about his life and how it was with out Jesus in it. I could swear he was telling my story and glanced at my wife wondering if she told him about me. He went on to say how he rejected the message of salvation for years but one day he hit rock bottom. I could see my life in this man and I started to shake all over. Could this all be true? Could Jesus really want to know and love me?
There is a man standing before me but I don’t know how I got here. It is very quiet and a little spooky with those big gates standing closed ahead of me. I am looking around and I have never seen anything so beautiful. “Did you know my master Jesus?” he asks me. “Did you accept him as your Lord and Savior?” he asks again. I shake my head and I begin to understand something. This is the last rejection I will ever have. I walk away and into a place of darkness but I am not alone.