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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: CLUE (09/06/18)
It’s Saturday evening and our family game night is getting tense. Gathered around the kitchen table with popcorn and M&M’s, the die is rolling, and tokens are moving on the board. My youngest has already attempted to solve our game of Clue. To his disappointment, it was a false accusation. He sits there pouting as the rest of us continue. We make visits to a few more rooms and call in various people and weapons before my daughter announces she wants to solve the mystery. She has been making careful notes the entire game. One can see the gears spinning in her brain as she watches the moves of other players.

“I accuse Mrs. White of committing the crime in the Parlor with the revolver.” She then picks up the envelope and carefully, but confidently, pulls out the cards. After validating her answer, she fans them out, face-up, on the table for everyone to see. This is followed by a victory dance in celebration while heading to the counter for a refill. Tired of this game, our son protests to another round, insisting it’s time to move on to his favorite, Scattergories.

After a few more games, I tuck the kids in bed and make some hot tea before Matt and I settle down to watch our favorite show. The TV comes on playing the top story of the day. A man of good character and a powerful Christian witness adored by many has been fatally shot in his own home. The tragedy gets worse. The shooter is a policewoman in uniform. She was coming home late that night after being on duty for over twelve hours. There’s one problem, and several unanswered questions here. Her apartment was one floor down, directly below the residence of the man killed. Is this just a case of mistakenly going to the wrong door, or is there a more sinister motive?

Matt commented as he watched the report, “We know ‘what’ was used to kill him, ‘who’ killed him and ‘where’ the incident took place, but not knowing ‘why’ or ‘what’ happened is causing animosity in so many people here and in his home country.”

I thought about what he said. It seems, to have a total understanding of a tragic event like this, we also want to know ‘why’ and ‘how’ this could happen. “Do you think if we knew ‘why’ and ‘how’ this happened it would be easier for those in so much pain to deal with this better?”

“Maybe some, but for most, I’m not so sure it would help. Even if they get the wanted answers, it doesn’t mean they’ll find the expected peace with knowing,” Matt said. “We both know you don’t always get those answers. Sometimes not even the ‘who,’ ‘what’ and ‘where’ of a situation.” He pauses for several minutes. “Instead of hanging on to the thought of ‘How could this happen to my son?’, I hope one day his mother will see how the story of his life, and his tragic death at such an early age, can serve as a witness to many around the world. Maybe that could help to bring her some peace.”

“My heart also breaks for the officer. If this is truly an accident, it must have been scary walking into that situation. Then the confusion of the situation after shooting the man, before realizing she wasn’t where she thought she was. She’ll spend her life wanting to redo what happened.”

Still pondering all the questions in my head, I walked back to look in on the kids and Matt heads to the kitchen. What could I do to ease the pain of these families not having the answers or justice they so desperately want?

I find the kids sleeping with peaceful looks softening their faces. I can pray for both families to find the peace that only God can give. I remember my Dad telling me how we can lean on our faith in God and his promises when there are no answers to difficult questions. True peace comes from our faith in God, not answers. With time, He will help us to integrate what we do know into our lives so that we can carry on and move forward without knowing all the answers.

We both returned to our spots on the sofa and turned to our favorite “Who Done It” show. After exchanging looks, we agreed to find something on the lighter side for tonight.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
09/13/18
Well written, I like the transition from "clue" family game to realistic horrors of today's world.

Blessings~
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
09/14/18
This is a nice story. You do a great job of setting the scene and developing the characters. I do often want to know why as well. But you're right about the best thing we can do is pray, pray for victims and families, pray for perpetrators and families, pray for lawyers and families. Pray. Pray. And pray.
Sherry Brock
09/15/18
I admire your ability to blend the topic, a Christian message, and current events together to form a cohesive storyline. Food for thought when tackling tough issues.
C D Swanson 
09/20/18
Congrats!
Blessings