Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Dead End (02/06/14)
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TITLE: The Beginning of The Rest of The Street | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dee Kyalo
02/10/14 -
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She and her husband, Paul had had a wonderful Saturday boat riding with the kids. On that warm summer evening, after tucking the children in bed, he had taken a short walk to his office at the church to finish up some work before the following day’s service. Hannah was exhausted and easily drifted off to sleep. Unbeknown to the devoted housewife, disaster was lurking in the vicinity - her worst nightmare was about to begin.
The mother of two was awakened by something and before she could open her eyes, she felt a hand cover her mouth and strange voice telling her, “If you scream, I will kill your kids.” She then caught a glimpse of the shiny blade at her throat and immediately knew that her life had just reached a dead end. No Christian wife (or any female) ever imagines that she could be assaulted and violated in the comfort of her own home.
After her ordeal, the ski-masked man hurriedly left through the bedroom window. Hannah was in shock but summoned the iota of strength she still had and went to check on her kids - surprisingly, their sleep had been undisturbed. She closed the door behind her, went back to her room not knowing what to do next.
Paul came home to find his wife seated at the foot of the bed, traumatized. That’s when she broke into a flood of tears and amid sobs said, “A man raped me.”
He felt like a ton of bricks had just landed on him. Despite being a minister as well as a licensed practicing crisis counselor, he was at loss for words. He regained his composure and called 911 to report the crime.
In the subsequent days, there was tension and anxiety, as they waited for HIV test results. They each faced internal struggles they couldn’t solve and questions they had no answers to. They had hit a brick wall, or so they thought. Against all odds, the morning after pill she took at the hospital didn’t work. Hannah became pregnant as a result of the rape and her definition of ‘dead end’ changed. Her Christian friends suggested abortion others proposed adoption and she wondered what other option was out there. She kept the pregnancy and delivered a beautiful child.
After almost two decades together, much to Hannah’s shock and dismay, the marriage dissolved when her husband informed her he was leaving. The divorce left her devastated. Rejected and afraid, she felt as though she had failed God, her kids, and her ministry but like Joseph, whatever the enemy had intended for evil, God turned it around for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20 NIV) It is hard to explain when bad things happen to good people, but through this turmoil Hannah was able to experience God’s healing love, extend forgiveness and become a testimony of God’s grace – touching many lives. She is a living witness that God’s power is available and can break through any dead end.
When we reach our Red Sea in life, and cannot go forward the only place else to look is up because blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. (Psalm 146:5 NIV). The way might be long and tough but it could be so that we do not turn back and return. For the Israelites, God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” And so they reached the Red Sea – a dead end (Exodus 13:17-18 NIV) but God made a way out (Exodus 14:21-22 NIV).
Like Hannah, we may not know how we arrived at that place but know that He who holds our hand is faithful. We’re not going to “stay” on the dead end street forever - this is evidenced by the Man who hung on that cross and said “It is finished.” That cross is “beginning” of the rest of the street and it is the legal notice stating what is coming. Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5 NIV)
(Non-fiction)
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That image of the man in the ski mask made me cry for what you had gone through, and your courage made me applaud.
Thank you for shaing your intense story and your values of Christianity in an entry I won't soon forget!
God bless you~
If this is a true story, my heart aches for you. One never "gets over it" and it is a long road of emotional and psychological recovery. I pray that God's healing love rain on you.
I think that this story could be even more powerful with the addition of some details that show the emotion that the characters felt. Maybe we could see Hannah cupping her face in her hands, or placing her hand over her growing belly.
I'm sure that this testimony has blessed many and will continue to do so. Through it we can see God's love and guidance through trials that seem impossible to weather.
Thanks for sharing.