Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: WORK OUT (05/20/21)
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TITLE: The Pathway to Peace | Previous Challenge Entry
By David Story
05/26/21 -
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Yeah. That bothered him, alright. At times he got angry for the peace she had found, while peace had continued to evade him. He tried the church “thing.” Just wasn’t for him. Too much work. Too much to give up.
But, Amy. Man. She made it seem so simple. Which of course, made him that much angrier. Jealous, really.
After making sure the door was locked, the alarm was off, and the lights were on, he walked over to one of the multi-purpose utility benches. He began to load weights onto the bar that ran across the top of the bench. Satisfied that he had the pounds he wanted, as well as the balance, he positioned himself on the bench for a morning workout.
“How much can you press?”
The question came from behind. He jerked up and turned around, almost hitting his head on the weights. In front of him was a man in jeans, a flannel shirt, and a cowboy hat.
“How’d you get in here?”
The man smiled. “I do get around.” The smile stayed on his face. “I hope I didn’t startle you.”
“No. I…I…”
“Hey, it’s okay. The name’s Max.”
Max offered his hand. Scott took it. The feeling of shock and surprise dissipated when he did so. At least to a degree.
Max looked at the weights. “About 250 pounds?”
“Exactly 250 pounds.”
“Impressive.” Max gave a cursory glance at Scott. “I think it shows.”
Scott almost turned red. “Thank you.” Pause. “What are you doing here, Max?”
“Oh, I came to see you, of course. This problem you’re having with your wife, Amy. Not wanting to be home. Coming here instead. I think there’s a deeper issue than not wanting to be around your wife, yes?”
Scott was amazed that he was willing to engage in conversation with this stranger who had somehow appeared in his place of business.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
Max walked over to the bench and ran his hands along the weights. “She has this peace inside of her that you desperately desire but have not been able to obtain. You want to know why?”
Could this stranger read his mind? He simply nodded his head.
“Your working too hard for it, Scott,” Max said. “All your life you have been working to get what you desire. And that works for this kind of workout. Stay at it, and the muscles form and grow.”
Made sense.
“But not so when it comes to the Master. With Him, it’s all about rest. Rest in Him, not in your own abilities. The pathway to peace is to take the work…out.”
“I don’t know if I can. I’ve tried before.”
Max laughed. “I get it. It’s a big problem for a lot of God’s children.” Max walked over to another bench and sat down. “What do you say to giving it another try? Get to know Him. Include Him in every aspect of your life. Rest in Him.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“That’s just it. You can’t.”
Scott’s head went down in seeming defeat. Max walked over to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
“You can’t. He can. Let Him do it, Scott. No more worrying about what you have to do, what you have to give up. He loves you, Scott. This is why He died for you. Got it?”
“I think so.”
Max smiled. “Good. Now get home to that wife of yours. She loves you as well, Scott. She’ll help you. Let her.”
For the first time, Scott smiled. “I will.”
“I know you will. You’re a good man, Scott. Let go of all of this “trying” and let God take over. He’ll do the rest.”
Max turned as about to leave.
Scott began to follow. “Let me unlock the door.”
“I can find my way out, thanks.”
And with that, he was gone. Scott looked around the gym but no one was there. Scott began to take the weights off the bars. There was still time to see Amy before she headed off for work.
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“Your working too hard for it, Scott,” "Your" should be "You're." Other than that, I enjoyed this entry very much.
Blessings~