Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Proverbs 15:1 (05/18/23)
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TITLE: One Kind of Soft Answer | Previous Challenge Entry
By Em Bonja
05/24/23 -
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“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
A soft answer can take many forms; so can wrath. This account, which is based on a true incident, is not the typical story that might illustrate this Proverb. However, the lesson is the same and offers guidance for us for many situations.
In 2002, we owned a home in Green Valley, California. It was a charming, small town located in the foothills of Saugus. Not much happened in this sleepy little town, and many people in the broader area didn’t know about it. But that year, it was in the news headlines, as the Copper Fire threatened to wipe out the whole community.
The fire began from power tool sparks and very quickly spread wildly out of control in dry, windy conditions. Our community of about 600 was forced to evacuate. My husband and I were down the hill teaching school in Saugus, when someone hurried into each of our classrooms and told us to return home to salvage belongings while we could still get in. We took our daughter out of school and headed directly into blaze. It was intimidating to drive into the fire at the same time we watched most of the cars on the road heading out of it, snaking down the hill.
We rushed in and got our dog, grabbed photos off the wall, threw a few clothes into a suitcase, and brought that all-important file of legal papers. Before we could do one more thing, a fireman was banging on the door, loudly yelling, “Get out now!” As our two cars crawled slowly down the hill, we speculated wildly about what was happening or might happen.
We heard The rest of the story later from eye witnesses:
There was a small lunch shop which everyone enjoyed, because it was the only one available and had good food. The owners made food day and night for all the firefighters. They did not evacuate.
Very quicky, ominous danger approached. An enormous fireball came surging down the main road, gathering speed and heading straight for the sandwich shop. The firefighters said, “It’s too late to get out. We can only hunker down.” With the calm that comes from knowing nothing can be done, they quietly formed a small circle, joined hands, and prayed to God. There were no anguished cries or screams for help. They simply thanked God for life and prayed for their families.
After some time of prayer, they wondered why they were still standing! Hurrying to the window, they were in time to see the fireball heading off in another direction. The wind had suddenly changed and sent the fireball on a sharp turn away from town. They hugged, shed some tears of relief, and thanked God!
A couple of weeks later, we visited the shop to discover a wall of photographs, taken from their shop, chronicling the event. Absent from the display were any pictures showing what happened while they we praying.
Sometimes, a soft answer comes in words of prayer. The people had let go of their emotional response and turned to God. Perhaps there are times when our answer to wrath might be the soft prayers that come from knowing that God is in control and is faithful. Drained of their fears and personal reactions, they got in tune with God. They rejected the harshness of questioning God and harboring anger at their plight.
This time, the wrath was in the form of a huge fireball. We face many kinds of wrath in our lifetime. This quiet band of people provides a good model for a godly response.
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I enjoyed your entry which was on topic and well delivered.
Blessings~