Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: FRAGILE (02/23/17)
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TITLE: Beach Encounter | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
02/27/17 -
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He glanced away from the distant horizon and saw the couple walking toward him he’d encountered a number of other days. Arturo had put on the mask of a happy face and greeted them with a smile that had been returned each time. Today putting on that façade was more difficult. He’d had a tough night with black and shadowy dreams of his losses. The face of his son, battered from the accident; his grandson’s tiny body mutilated by the windshield when the car had veered into the old oak tree. The worst was his wife. The police had spared him the horror of identifying her at the morgue. The problem was that his imagination took over as he pictured her head separated from the rest of her. Perhaps it would have been better to see the real thing; at least then the dark fantasies wouldn’t plague him.
Arturo thought he had been a man of faith prior to that terrible night. He’d gone to church regularly, said his rosary, and confessed his sins to the priest. More than that, he’d been a good person, helping others in need and always offering a friendly greeting to those around him. All that had turned to dust. In a tenuous way he still believed in God; how could he not given the evidence of the world around him? Still, his faith had become so fragile, even simple prayers were difficult.
Unlike the other days, the man walking on the beach toward him veered his way. It took Arturo by surprise, but his automatic response of a pleasant greeting took over. Habit does that.
“I’m a Christian,” the man said, “and God put you on my heart. I’ve seen your smile and that made me ask God if I should say something to you. The only thing I kept thinking was to tell you that Jesus loves you.”
Arturo didn’t know why, but that simple statement touched him at a deep level. He thanked the man, introduced himself, and learned that the messenger’s name was John, his wife Ellen. In the next instant Arturo blurted out the fact of his losses.
John expressed his condolences and repeated that Jesus loved Arturo very much, then he and Ellen continued on their walk down the beach. But that wasn’t the end of John. On the couple’s way back, John again swerved toward Arturo, who was now standing ankle deep in the water.
“When God starts working on me,” John said, “I have to be obedient. May I ask you a question?”
At Arturo’s assent, John continued, “You’ve suffered terribly, and I’m so sorry for that.” The empathy was clear in John’s eyes. “Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior so He can help you through your grief?”
“My daughter is a believer in Jesus.” Despite the failure of his belief, Arturo thanked God that she was still with him and had a good relationship with Christ. “She went to Israel recently and walked where Jesus walked. It deepened her faith.”
“Arturo, Jesus wants to have that kind of bond with you. May I pray for you?”
“Yes, please.”
John placed his hand on Arturo’s shoulder and asked God to draw him near and to bring comfort from the tragedies he’d endured. They shook hands and parted. Arturo watched John and his wife until they disappeared from his view.
The atmosphere surrounding Arturo’s dreams that night changed. They had a sense of hope about them, especially as he reflected on John’s words about Jesus. Was it truly possible that Jesus could bring the comfort Arturo so desperately needed to move to a better place in his life? Was the love of Christ strong enough to break the chains of Arturo’s grief?
He eagerly sought for John each day on the beach, but never saw him again. His disappointment turned to joy when his daughter came to visit. He told her of his encounter, and she reiterated John’s question. “Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?”
This time he said, “I want to.”
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