Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Desire (01/17/05)
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TITLE: Ready Or Not, Here I Come (Scripture taken from the KJ Version of the Bible) | Previous Challenge Entry
By Anna Johnson
01/22/05 -
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As a young, female athlete, I preferred competing against guys. I wonder if Eve felt compelled to test Adam's strength.
One particular triumph occurred in the 6th grade when sweet, unassuming John and I stood final contenders of eraser tag. As I chased John around the room, weaving in and out of the rows of desks, the girls cheered me on, and the boys rooted for John. When I sped up behind my opponent, eraser still in tact, the girls went crazy screaming and clapping. Tagging John on the right shoulder, I aced sweet victory for womanhood! I doubt my rival suspected I liked him.
Another time, my neighbor Paul and I were squabbling about something of mine he refused to give back. After I slugged my Italian heartthrob on the arm, Paul double-fisted me hard on my back, causing my dignity to collapse on the sidewalk. "Boys will be boys," Paul's mother Sharon sneered.
While competing and winning in sports is encouraged and expected, winning in love requires a different game plan. Unfortunately, I've not won in matters of the heart.
Now 55, divorced, with six grandchildren, I had hoped to be beyond competing for a man's attention. In my golden years, I should be enjoying my spouse of 30+ years, or, if widowed, basking in fond memories of a shared, lifetime love affair.
While it's human to want relationship, it's frustrating competing in the single arena where men 50+ prefer younger women. Surely God can enlighten woman's fascinating creature to agree that closeness in age is a match based on divine reality, not unfulfilled fantasy.
Does "...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way..." (Matthew 7:14) apply here? I don't like the second part of verse 14, "...and few there be that find it." While I've taken liberty with Scripture, I find that willingness to cultivate true love is the "narrow" and "only" way. Detours lead to heartache.
My Heavenly Father reminds me that courage and perseverance win the race. While desires race, courage and perseverance wane for I'm easily distracted.
If love finds you worthy, it finds you. So, is worthy me to assume he'll knock on my door? Besides, he might not know my address, unless he has access to www.heavenlymapquest.com, guided by divine intervention. He certainly won't come charging on a white horse to rescue me, if I'm not his young princess. What if he draws near and discovers my silver locks and crows feet, then turns away leaving me in dusty dismay?
Since the single field is ripe for the harvest, but less fruitful, I conclude my beloved will descend from the sky. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17).
I'm tired of variableness and turning as I've scouted the field online, on the sidelines, out in left field or in the end zone. I can't blame my Lord. He's been patient Him, encouraging me to cultivate the fruit of His Spirit, while I warm the bench, I mean pews.
I'm learning that winning desires means I gain small victories along the way. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12). A tree of life abundantly branches out to discover how true winning breeds internal joy and contentment and external victory becomes a contagious byproduct.
My special man must be out there somewhere, waiting to present me with his NFL ("No Foul Love") trophy of heart. Since the road is narrow, and I've purposed to sit and wait, I'm now free to delight in the Lord. Even if He never grants me my desire, I have perfect Him. No foul love on His end.
When Glory arrives, victory won't be about my accolades. My Husband doesn't want competitive wiles, but gentleness as His humble bride overflows in His love.
I then win His crowning glory exalting Him in Spirit-filled, earthly victories. With God reminding me that all things are possible with Him, then Heaven (His highest and best) is the limit. Only He knows what or who might come down from above.
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