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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: REFUGE (08/29/19)
Hundreds of ants hurry and head for home. There are no birds in sight, they have gone to their nests. Even the squirrels are silent. In my rural home, even the traffic is still.
Their refuge is their home. Its their safe place to rest and sleep.

Look deeper, go further; ten miles away if you look on the city streets, there are bundles of sleepers in doorways. They are laid out on concrete. They have no refuge; no place to call home. Society’s dropouts, drug addicts and mind altered people are sleeping on backpacks. Some have begged all day and may have used their gains for today’s fix or for scraps of food.

Local churches saw the need. Heart wrenching stories were told and pastors and ministers got together. An unused building was bought and brought up to standard. Licenced by the city; an open door was provided for God’s destitute children.

This was not only a refuge for a night. Prayers, rehabilitation, healing and training were provided. An industry of reform began. All the willing ones now had a place to be renewed in soul and body. Some brought their friends along.

Local government got involved. They admired the work and decided to help by providing avenues for training. Skills were learnt; mechanics, farm workers, electricians and cooks were born. Many got jobs. Daily prayers and Bible teaching were non negotiable staples in the refuge.

Today the Industry of Reform is a model to the nation of how to change and bring the Kingdom of God to earth. Like the ants, the birds and the squirrels; the destitute now have a safe place to go.

‘Jesus came. He helped and healed the wounded lost ones in his town. Thieves, prostitutes and liars all found healing and hope in Christ. He set examples for us to follow. Our refuge is In Him; His loving heart our home. He became Our Father’s Hands on earth’.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Dave Walker 
09/05/19
An interesting contrast of the homeless with animals and insects which have safe havens.
A bit of red ink: I presume when you spoke about the traffic being still, you wanted to imply that the people were also in their place of refuge. However, interposing it between the ants, birds and squirrels and their safe place to rest and sleep made me initially think that the traffic had a safe place to rest.
As you say, many of the stories of the homeless are heart wrenching. Many times it's "There, but for the grace of God, go I."
Donald Standeford
09/05/19
Very hope filled incident, and a good example of how God's work layers on itself, never completed by one man or woman.

I did, however, think the ending drifted from earlier on in story.

Jesus is brought in, but it was through his people he worked. I would like to see how we can use our gifts, let him work from inside of us to out to effect change.

The end abandons the human element, Christ in us the hope of glory; it ends with power of Jesus, whom we have all seen in the Bible.
Barbara Culler 
09/06/19
In my area, it's the people who don't want help that add to the homeless encampments. Mental illness is the leading cause, and until that is addressed, the problem will continue. I'm glad your area was helpful in this issue.
C D Swanson 
09/10/19
Wonderful story with a great message, thank you,
Blessings~
Janet Richey
09/12/19
I loved the comparison between human and animal habits, city dwelling and rural areas. I got a little nervous when you said that the government got involved, thinking there would be a sad ending. I am impressed that secular and religious worlds were able to collaborate in this instance. It's not always the case. Nice piece of writing, all the same.