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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: GREED (avarice, particularly for wealth and things) (01/22/15)
There once was a woman who owned a small but successful construction company. It was her dream and she loved it. She had worked hard through the years to establish herself in a historically male-dominated industry. She was a true craftsman. Building was her passion. Wielding tools, guiding others, and physically being part of the building process gave her strength. Sawdust, drywall, and concrete mixed with the sweat of hard work brought her a sense of purpose and joy. She trusted her heart, believed in herself, worked hard, produced outstanding results and was fueled by sheer determination. As a result, her business grew and was on the brink of breaking into the places where only the “big boys” traditionally trod.

It must also be said that in the midst of pushing her company to the next level, she began to change. There was no longer time to visit the sites, wield a hammer, coach her staff or personally connect with her customers. As the number of contracts and employees grew, she became compulsively focused on the nuts and bolts of the business of business. Mounds of paperwork surrounded her. Financial reports, proposals, vendors, employees, telephone calls and email correspondence threatened to consume her.

With the same perseverance and tenacity that helped win her first contract, she drove herself, focusing exclusively on the mounting pressures in the office to the detriment of everyone around her. Simultaneously, she extended her work hours, single-mindedly hammering away at the projects. “No pain, no gain” became her mantra. However, despite her unyielding tenacity, she missed deadlines, lost her ability to laugh, and her personal life ground to a halt. In response, she drove herself harder.

Late one night as she left her office, she lost her balance and missed the last step. After landing face first on the ground, she slowly rolled over onto her back and opened her eyes. Above her was a clear night sky filled with glittering stardust that danced around a shimmering white crescent moon.

Suddenly, tears pooled in her eyes and flowed freely down her face. The beauty of the sky touched her heart and awakened her memories. In the early years of her business, she had gone home in the evening filled with awe and gratefulness for days laden with support, laughter, jokes, hard work, sore muscles and camaraderie. At the end of each day she always stopped to pause, look at the night sky and give thanks. She’d forgotten the beauty of those moments. They had filled her with peace that settled upon her like a warm blanket.

The story continues that under the light of the moon, as she lay on the cold, hard ground with tears flowing from her eyes, she was able to see the path she had been following and the results of her misplaced energy and behaviors. She’d never meant for her story to be like this. Yet it happened. Instead of living her dream, she had attempted to control her dream. Instead of building with her heart, she’d been building with her head. Instead of living in joy, she had managed out of fear. If she didn’t choose to change, everything might crumble and she could be crushed beneath the rubble and consequences of her decisions.

The decision was hers.

Eventually, the tears dried, she rolled over, pushed herself up, brushed off the bits and pieces of gravel and dirt, straightened her shoulders back and slowly walked to her car.

She’d made her choice.

- - - -
There’s a little of each of us woven into this story. Like our business owner, we can unintentionally get caught up in dangerous maelstrom behaviors while reaching for our dreams. Like her, we each get to choose how our story unfolds. Will it crumble around us and crush us? Or will it be a new beginning?
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 715 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
01/29/15
I really enjoyed this introspective piece with a powerful message attached.

Well done.

God bless~
Penny Neimiller 
01/30/15
I really liked your story and how a fall was the tool God used to turn her perspective around. I see this happen so often it is so sad that we get side tracked and run in the wrong race. Good and well written article. I need to expand my vocabulary and the few new words I encountered were used in a way that you gave good indicators of their meanings. Thank you for the pleasure of reading this entry. Penny
C.B. Cook
01/31/15
Wonderful job on this story! I like how you used the fall to bring her around, and the sky to bring back the memories. Very thought provoking questions at the end that all of us should ask ourselves. I love it, thank you for sharing.
Larry Whittington
02/02/15
Good teaching story.

If we are in her position, we are force to make the decision since the author didn't.

Yes, life should be thought of as our time to make "good" decisions.
Noel Mitaxa 
02/03/15
A good contrast between what money can buy - and what money can never buy. Well written.
Milly Born
02/04/15
Great story and good writing.

My only suggestions would be to give your main character a name to make it more personal and to slightly rework the first paragraph to make it a more compelling beginning.

Blessings!
Zacharia Fox
02/05/15
this story reads so much like real life. Its easy to read, rounding itself out with a realistic revelation. At least that seems to be how I realize things:) Impromptu moments, I mean, not by falling on the ground.

You are quite skilled. And I look forward to reading your articles in the future.