Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: FINISH (05/26/16)
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TITLE: Funny Finnish Frases (Phrases) | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mike Hill
06/02/16 -
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Finland, the Land of the Midnight Sun, the land of 188,000 lakes and 179,000 islands, home to so many reindeer and to Nokia. It’s one of the few countries that increases in size every year (peacefully) whether the Finns like it or not. Due to post-glacier rebound, the land rises a little less than one-half inch per year giving them 2.7 square miles of new land annually. Indulging in some of the world’s oddest sports and activities such as ice-swimming during the midst winter, the wife carrying championship, swamp soccer, ant hill sitting championship and the fact that so much of their year is in “darkness” one is not surprised that we find many funny phrases used by the Finns.
My favorite is Juoksentelisinkohan (just don’t ask me to pronounce it!) This one word is actually the phrase "I wonder if I should run around aimlessly?” It delights me that you can say all that in one word. It’s what many probably think I am doing when I go fly-fishing or shooting photos in the woods. Sometimes, I just wander, I’m sure with a blank look on my face. Just taking it all in. In so many ways it is easier for me to see God and His Hand when I’m surrounded by nature than when surrounded by people.
The next one…..
Huh.
Me?
Oh my!
Are you sure?
I’ll confirm it.
You’re correct – finish.
Uhh
Let me start again.
In my haste I got too free with my n’s. Finish not Finnish. My bad.
A little preparatory explanation before y’all think I’m a monster – I do like babies, I really do! I’ll coo over them, I’ll feign over them, make goo-goo noises, rock them to sleep, etc.… But there is a limit! They are admitted in my life as long as they aren’t anywhere near the restaurant I’m eating in. If I went to movies, I wouldn’t want them there either. I don’t want them at hockey games either – well there aren’t many at hockey games anyways.
We don’t start out in life on the good side of much. So many think of those upchucking, crying, smell-producing little bitty humans are Angels! But let’s be honest here. Let’s get past all the sentimentality. Babies start life as the most selfish humans possible. They don’t care they’re getting you up at midnight, 2 am, 4 am for feedings – all they care about is that they are hungry – NOW! They don’t care whether you are trying to get the wash done – they want something now. Try to take a nap – nope, they want something right then and now!
The road to maturity is learning that one is not the center of the universe and that not all earth’s citizens are servants for your use. The Bible in more than one place indicates that parents are to train their tots in the ways of being human and in the ways of Jesus. It’s all about the path and the finishing. We are to finish well. And if we embrace God, Jesus and their teachings and listen to the Holy Spirit, we are well into maturing. It’s not important to finish first, but it is important to finish well. We all have changes to make in our lives and one of the most important is to be weaned off milk-toast and to stand in our own identity with Christ. Finish well my friends!
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I think your change in mid story was a bit jarring. With a little time, I think you could make the Finnish topic work. With your sense of humor, I could see you do something about how the Finnish are great at finishing.
Also, your opening line isn't a complete sentence (you forgot to finish it ;) ) You could fix it easily like this:
Finland, the Land of the Midnight Sun, the land of 188,000 lakes and 179,000 islands, home to reindeer and to Nokia is one of the few countries that increases in size every year (peacefully) whether the Finns like it or not.
Or even better, make it an active sentence instead of a passive one: Finland...expands in size...and the Finns multiply. (I'm sure with your sense of humor, you could do it even better than my pitiful example.)
I like your message at the end, although it too felt a tiny bit forced. Again, I think you could have gotten your message out with the Finnish hook and some finagling. You don't need to tell the reader your message, instead let her figure it out from your great examples and humor. You have a great foundation here, and you definitely have a gift for storytelling. I loved the line about the unpronouncable word. Actually, that is the start of reeling in the actual topic. You could do something like: I wonder if the Finnish have a word for "Knock it off already and finish!" I hope I don't come off as overly critical. You really have a bunch of raw talent. I suspect the more you write and read and critique other challenges, you will blossom in ways you can't even hope for. God has great plans for you. I'd love to challenge you to read and comment on every story in your level. The more you read, the easier it is to discover what does and doesn't work for you. I sense your passion and your desire to spread that love you feel to others. It's palpable. Keep writing; I look forward to reading more of your work. Great job.