The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: SURPRISE (07/25/19)
The force with which they thrust her in the ring caused her to stumble and fall. As her cheek hit the floor of the temple court she inhaled a mouthful of dust. It was all over. Robes swishing, two men wrenched her up into standing again. She dared not look up for fear of the chorus of scrutinizing eyes that sought the shame on her face. Harsh, rapid-fire voices ricocheted back and forth. These men reminded her of her ruthless husband. He loved to use his strength to reduce her value to that of the dirt on which she stood.

This moment was inevitable. In this community there was no way of escaping an illicit love affair without consequence. Her thoughts wondered to Calev and what would become of him. He had promised to protect her. She had pretended to believe him so that she could relish those rare moments of joy in her life. Now she wondered how the stoning would feel. Would they be merciful and strike her head first so she lost consciousness? Or would they start with her body? Her palms stung where they’d been grazed by sharp bits of gravel in the fall.

The voices ceased. Silence. Death must be imminent. Her heart thundered in her ribcage and she squeezed her eyes closed. Sucking in her breath, she savoured the earthiness now filling her nostrils for the last time. This was her last touch of reality before the afterlife, whatever that was for her. She braced herself, tightening every muscle, anticipating the first stone. It would be any second now.

There was a shift in the atmosphere; she could sense it through her entire being. She opened her eyes. A man hunched down and drew markings in the sand. She didn’t understand. Oppressive warmth from the crowd encroached upon her, shutting out the daylight. They were all waiting for something.

Then, a kind voice. Not soft. Measured. A strange calm descended on her. The voice drew her in. What did he just say?
“Let him who has no sin cast the first stone.” What? It was the man hunkering down on the sand who spoke. Who was he? A slow, exhaled breath passed through her lips as her muscles spontaneously relaxed a little. Was he challenging her accusers? Why? Who would want to do that? She was worth nothing and could give nothing in return.

As though magnetised, her face trained towards his, and their eyes met. Knowing her place, she looked away, but an intense need for more compelled her to look again. In his gaze was a gentleness that she had never encountered. Compassion. Could it be? Tears filled her eyes, her heart. Deep within her, a fortress cracked open and the warmth of compassion knocked on the door of cold, hard places in her soul.

Space opened up around her, permitting a meandering breeze to waft in with sounds from the street. All around her men walked away into the distance, one by one. She was crying now, as though a tap had turned on inside her soul. An unasked for, unexpected, undeserved trickle of freedom gushed into a river that was threatening to sweep her off her feet.

The man waited. Every accuser turned and left.
“Woman, where are they?” she heard Kindness say. She looked into the face of the one who could love her like this when she had done nothing to deserve a defender. She recognised him now. It was the one they called Messiah. No words came to her. There was no expression fit to utter in this state of awe and wonder, but it all made sense. Rivulets of tears washed the dust off her cheeks, and she shook her head in disbelief.

He spoke again.
“Has no one condemned you?”
She swallowed, looking side to side. The fullness of the blue sky reflected a new window within her soul. He had saved her. He had saved HER.
“No one, sir,” she rasped.
He smiled at her, and heaven broke through her cracked exterior to embrace her heart.
“Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

John 8:2-11 (NIV)
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 3261 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Janet Richey 
08/01/19
I cried. This story of Jesus gets me every time, and your retelling of it is creative and engaging. Great piece.
C D Swanson 
08/01/19
Wow...you did a spectacular job with the retelling of this Biblical story. Fantastic job with the mind-set and POV from the adulteress.

Great job with the topic,

Blessings~
Mary Hood
08/01/19
I will never read that story the same again!! Riveting! I felt her pain, her fear, her confusion, and her amazement and joy! Salvation is an awesome experience! I know! A great read! Thank you!
Carolyn Ahrens
08/02/19
Awesome job!
Barbara Culler 
08/02/19
Well done bringing this to life! I love the phrase about the drawing of the face like its magnetized!
Jenny Fulton 
08/03/19
Beautifully written!
Laurie Glass 
08/08/19
Congrats on your win! Well done!
Rachel Burkum
08/08/19
Very, very, very well-written! And congratulations!
Corinne Smelker 
08/08/19
Well done! That is an excellent piece.
I believe you belong in Master's. You might be new to the site (and perhaps you aren't) but you are definitely not new to writing!

Well deserved first place!
Barbara Culler 
08/08/19
Congrats!
C D Swanson 
08/08/19
congrats on a well deserved win!
Blessings~
Jack Taylor 
08/09/19
Brilliant glimpse at the mind and heart of a woman we often brush past. You remind us of the hope we all have in meeting Jesus just as we are. Keep up the great work.
Gloria Pierre Dean
10/01/19
I really love this. Your words took us there; like a vision.
Our Saviour is indeed kind, compassionate and Messiah to us. Beautiful!
Jim Harrison
11/29/19
I certainly enjoyed the descriptive usage of your words.

Even though I am very familiar with this accounting, you truly gave it legs; I was engaged. You did an excellent job, congratulations you crafted a beautiful story.
Betsy Markman
06/27/20
Beautiful! Well done!
Heather Love
07/02/20
From your opening words I was drawn in and I knew which story you were telling me. The beauty is in you telling us the story. A few spelling, tense changes have not deterred me from enjoying your story. Thank you.
Bonnie Bowden 
07/03/20
Congratulations on retelling this Bible story in a meaningful and contemporary way.
Esther Florence
08/14/20
Honestly have never read a better retelling of this story. You actually took me to that scene and took me through. Could feel her hurt and the Master's love. Just beautiful. Well deserved. Thank you for writing this piece. Brings so much hope!
Stephen Kimball
09/06/20
Your first of only two articles on FW and you take 3rd for the year! Wherever you went, I hope you keep on writing for the glory of God. Congratulations...great job.
Janice Aylor
03/18/21
I love this story! You really captured the emotion of this woman and how she felt as she knew she was trapped.

Very well written.
Laura Manley
05/10/21
Wow! This writing is a beautiful display of a most familiar story from the Bible. I know this is already been judged and you definitely deserved your ranking, but I have a couple things that I personally find distracting. I am not looking it up, but I think the words "magnetised" and "recognised" should have a "z" instead of an "s." But perhaps you are from another country and that is the correct spelling. Just a note. The other thing I found a bit distracting is there are no paragraphs between the writing when someone speaks. But that is minor in this wonderfully written winner! It had a fresh look at such a familiar Bible story. I enjoyed it thoroughly.