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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sibling(s) (05/01/08)
There we were, my brother and I, staring down the ice covered street still elated over the words we heard earlier that morning "school closed due to inclement weather". Growing up in East Texas did not give us the privilege of hearing these words often. High School was proving to be quite challenging so we were embracing this refreshing break with both arms.

We were both wrapped up in every piece of winter clothing mom could find. We had thermals, turtle neck shirts, old coats from dad, wool socks for our feet (to this day I'm not sure where those came from!) and our ingenious Mom had also given us a pair of socks for each hand to serve as mittens. They were coming in quite handy!

He was standing on one side of our makeshift bobsled and I, on the other side. We stood at the top of the oil top road just as determined and proud as an Olympic bobsledding team might be. He looked over at me still giddy from what we had found. Neither of us could believe that while searching in the woods past our back yard we would find such a prized possession. Who would have ever thought we would have found an old ceramic bathtub. This was the most beautiful bobsled one could imagine! Only in East Texas could one be so lucky.

We carried the bathtub up the steep hill and began discussing our racing strategy. He would be the front man, I would be in the back. Leaning left turns us left and leaning right turn us right, these were the things we thought were obviously true.

So there we stood, atop the steep hill, on that back country road, looking down as if this race would be for the gold. We were in our zone, on the count of three we would run, holding the bathtub in our sock covered hands, and jump in heading towards the finish line. "Ready...one...two...three" and we were off, now soaring down the hill, in all our glory, when just around the bend we saw a car coming straight for us....."Lean left! Lean left! Leaning left we both realized did indeed turn us left (confirming our theory) straight into the ice covered ditch on the side of the road. Down we went crashing through the thin layer of ice covering the six inches of water that lay dormant underneath, which was now filling up the bathtub through the drain hole faster than we could jump out. As we stood pulling our Bobsled out of the freezing water we waived eagerly to the car now passing us by at a very slow speed, wondering how cool we must have looked to the passerby.

It has only occurred to me recently as I have retold this great memory of my childhood what the person in the car must have been thinking as they passed us by that day! Finding a bathtub in our backyard that day didn't seem as strange back then as it does now. For us, that was adventure and what an adventure it was!

As I sit smiling at this wonderful memory I wonder what boring lives we live by choosing to not bobsled in the bathtub. I can't help but wonder what great adventures God has waiting for us if we just use our child like faith and go on the great adventure of life. Some, I suppose, would be mortified to think of a bathtub just sitting in their back yard. For us, it was an opportunity for something great.

What type of bobsleds do you have sitting around in your life that God wants to use to bring joy to your life? Do you take the bathtub and go bob-sledding or do you throw it in the truck and take it to the dump?
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This article has been read 975 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Tessy Fuller
05/08/08
Who can resist a title like that, this was my first read for this week. And I loved it. I am wondering at this point why we never tried a bathtub - we had several sitting around. My favorite part was after they crashed into the ditch - they eagerly waved at the passing car, knowing how awesome they looked, despite the crash and being soaked and freezing. That cracked me up - b/c that is exactly how we were. Living in the country we would be out in the yard playing ball and try to look extra cool when the car passed by. As you can see this brought back many fond memories.
Leticia Caroccio
05/08/08
With such a unique title, I just had to dive in and read it. And it was worth it, too! We used to slide down vacant lots on black garbage bags in the Bronx! I loved the message behind the story. God is so awesome to teach us lessons using out of the ordinary things. Your article was a great read. It was interesting and even made me tense up as I envisioned the moment when the bathtub hit the ice. Thank you for that glimpse into your childhood. Good job.
Karin Beery
05/09/08
As it has already been said, your title is great! It got my attention.

A minor critique: some of your sentences are quite lengthly. Add a few shorter sentences and look into various punctuation. It will help with the flow.

Overall, very enjoyable and nicely written. Thanks!
Debbie Wistrom
05/09/08
Great devotional, all it needs is a Scripture tie in.

I can see it all. Especailly the "mittens."

Thanks for a wild ride.
Yvonne Blake 
05/11/08
I can imagine all the fun you had that day!
I liked your descriptions. A little dialogue would help the reader feel like they are right with you.
Well done. Keep writing.
Lynn Jacky
05/14/08
Hi, I really enjoyed your story. Amazing what God can do with a bathtub. Excellent writing - Had a good laugh. Thank you.
Dolores Stohler 
05/14/08
I thoroughly enjoyed this--so funny! Reminds me of some of the things my sons did while growing up. Great story!
Lollie Hofer 
05/15/08

What a wonderful adventure! Enjoyed every bit of it. You have great potential as a writer. I also enjoyed the object lesson that went with the story.
Lollie Hofer 
05/15/08

What a wonderful adventure! Enjoyed every bit of it. You have great potential as a writer. I also enjoyed the object lesson that went with the story.