Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: MAP (01/31/19)
-
TITLE: Uncovering Yourself | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ken Grant
02/05/19 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
"All the way to here?"
He and his father had been standing, watching the traffic go by, and as Danny looked back toward his home he could barely see it.
"Yes, son, all the way to here."
Danny thought that was the most amazing thing about his new house until one day, searching the basement, he had found an old piece of paper all folded up that had been stuffed in a far corner. He had immediately rushed to his father and they had set it out on the large dining room table under bright light.
"It's a treasure map. It's a treasure map."
He was out of control and had expected his father to chastise him, but instead his father had merely smiled and said, "looks like we are going to have an adventure."
"Really?"
"Yes. Tomorrow we'll check this out."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes, tomorrow. Now get to bed."
Danny didn't sleep a wink that night. He kept waiting for daylight. Finally he got up and after the quickest breakfast of his life he was ready to go. Map in hand he joined his father to follow the clues.
"Let's see what we have here."
His father rubbed his chin as he read the map before saying, "that tree has been here forever and it's a good place to start."
Danny ran to the tree and looked up. It was so big it must have been here forever.
"Is there anything marked on the tree, son?"
Danny studied the tree, but found nothing. He wondered if their search was over before it had begun.
"There's nothing here, dad."
"Let me see."
His father looked up higher and then he said, "here's something. Someone carved 16YN in the tree. It's been here a while."
"What does it mean?"
"Well, do you have any ideas?"
Danny hated this about his father. He never just told you the answer, even when he knew. He always made you work for it.
"It doesn't mean anything to me. Can't you just tell me?"
"Don't be lazy. Now what would 16Y mean?"
"A distance?"
"What distance?"
"Sixteen yards?"
"Very good, son. Do you know how far that is?"
"In football, ten yards is a first down."
"Good. So we have some idea how far from the tree. But how do we know which direction?"
Danny thought and then replied, "oh, N is for north."
"Good. How do we know which way is north?"
Danny thought before responding, "we could use a compass."
His father laughed and said, "we could, but there's an easier way. Which way does the sun rise in the morning?"
"Oh, east."
"Good, now where is north from east?"
Danny found the sun, then turned his body and said, "this way."
"Good. I'll show you how to approximate a yard."
Danny watched his father take large strides forward counting them off until he stopped at sixteen. He was amazed that the ground was clearly disturbed where his father stopped.
"Looks like the place," his father announced.
"Now what?"
"Now we get dirty."
Danny and his father dug in the dirt until they uncovered an old metal lunch box. As they pulled it out and brushed off the dirt his father said, "I used to have one like this when I was your age."
"What does it mean, dad?"
"Open it up."
Danny struggled with the latch until it opened revealing a note inside. Danny read, "congratulations on finding my lunch box. My dad made me a lunch every day until he died. He always left me notes about how he loved me and God did too. I hope it brings you much joy."
"I don't understand, dad."
"Whoever owned this had a father who loved him very much. He wanted to pass it along to remind other people of the importance of love for people and God.
"Cool."
Danny enjoys lunch form the lunchbox most days and hopes to pass it along to another lucky boy one day.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
nicely done,
God bless~