Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Write CONTEMPORARY FICTION (10/30/14)
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TITLE: Public Prayer & Principal Tom | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jennifer Champion
10/30/14 -
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Principal Tom Phillips leaned back in his chair after making the announcement and looked over at Jerry, his assistant. He hired Jerry a couple of years ago when he found out from a friend at church that Jerry had been laid off from a school in another zone. Of all the people that he worked with, Jerry was the quiet one; He rarely offered up his opinion on subjects like politics or religion. Tom really wanted to know Jerry’s opinion on this whole issue with public prayer at school and it looked like the only way he was going to find out was to just come out and ask him.
“Jerry, what do you think about all this?” He finally asked.
Jerry looked up from a file he was reviewing and smiled at Tom before answering, “Do you really want to know? You might not like it.”
“Well, I know you’re a Christian and you pray but I’ve never heard you during all these weeks at trial give your opinion on it. What gives?” With a furled brow, the Principal pinned Jerry down about it.
Jerry closed the file and turned in his chair to face the Principal. He thoughtfully sat there for a few moments deciding how to best explain what he had to say.
“Tom, I am a Christian but I support what the RFO and the Judge has done and here’s why. Tonight I suspect hundreds of parents and students will show up in the back parking lot to pray. They will turn out in force, hold hands and pray loudly for all to hear. I can’t help but ask myself their reason for doing so. Are they meeting up in larger numbers to fully worship God or are they doing it for show? We are told in Matthew 6 not to practice our righteousness in front of others so we can be seen. We are told to pray in private. So, I wonder once again if all the people that will show up tonight to pray would have prayed in private anyway if it had not been for the ruling? As Christians, we are to pray without ceasing and to do it in worship of the Lord, not for public display because then it becomes an issue of the flesh instead of the spirit. Also, if we are allowed to continue to pray over the intercom to our God, then what is stopping someone of another religion to pray over the intercom as well? Legally, nothing would be able to stop a Buddhist, Islamic, or Wiccan from praying too. The bottom line is the ruling does not stop me from praying.”
The Principal had been so angry for so many weeks. He felt defeated and persecuted. His men’s group at church along with their pastor was planning a trip to Washington soon to join others in the fight but now, he wasn’t so sure if it was the right thing to do. Instead, he opened his desk drawer and pulled out his bible.
“Did you say Matthew 6?” He asked Jerry.
Jerry nodded and pulled his chair up next to Tom’s. He placed his arm around Tom’s shoulder and bowed his head in prayer. He thanked the Lord for the ruling and for the opportunity he and Tom had to discuss it. He prayed Tom would receive clarity and wisdom from His words.
Hours later at the stadium the Principal watched as more than two hundred parents and students circled up in the back parking lot for prayer. News reporters were taking photos and filming the group. He bent down where he stood in the announcer’s booth and bowed his head in silent prayer. No one saw him but the Lord and he was okay with that.
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Well done.
Well done.
God bless~
Your story is well written and thought-provoking. Thank you. God bless you.