Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: JOY (10/28/21)
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TITLE: Dancing WIth Joy, a Monologue | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laurie Kiel
11/03/21 -
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Hello everyone, please excuse me for not looking you in the eye. But don’t take it personally, I don't look anyone in the eye--how could I? My back has been stuck like this for eighteen years. (SUDDENLY STRAIGHTENS UP AND GIGGLES) Okay, I was just joshing you all--I can look you in the eye-- but only because the Lord has healed me!
Have you ever wanted anything so amazing, so out of the realm of possibility that you did not even want to dream it? You didn't want to even ask for it for fear of your hopes being dashed to the ground.
(SHE STARTS A SMALL LAUGH AND THEN A BIGGER LAUGH & FINALLY A HUGE LAUGH ERUPTS) I'm sorry, you'll have to forgive me. I have years of suppressed joy that were buried so deep I didn't even know they were there--buried under discouragement, hopelessness, and loneliness. And the biggest layer over the joy? Guilt. I know so many of the townspeople thought my affliction was God’s punishment for some horrible sin. I was haunted by the nagging question, Were they right?
And then came that wonderful day of freedom and joy. It all began with a buzzing of excitement in the synagogue. The rabbi Jesus had come! I couldn't see his face but I knew it had to be kind because his voice was bathed in kindness.
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you felt you would explode if you didn’t ask for it--and then somehow the words can't come out--all choked by hopelessness. I was kicking myself on the inside. Coward! Speak up! Walk to the master… all right, hobble to the master. I just couldn’t make myself do it. I didn't want to hear the snickers and unbelieving snorts. But then it happened A hand reached out to me and that kind voice said, “Woman, you are free from your infirmity.”
Do you realize what eighteen years of being bent over meant?
Eighteen years of no eye contact
Eighteen years without a hug
Eighteen years of no loving gazes
And with Jesus’ loving touch and words, I stood straight up!
And my first eye contact in 18 years was into his loving eyes.
The first hug in eighteen years was my grateful hug of Jesus
And his loving gaze was worth the eighteen-year wait.
Hoo, hoo, ho, ho! the joy is bubbling up again as I remember that day. I think I might I have to do a cartwheel, (MAKES A MOVE AS IF SHE IS GOING TO DO A CARTWHEEL) Gotcha! I couldn't do a cartwheel if my life depended on it, and I bet you couldn't do a cartwheel either, but I'm sure doing them on the inside!
The words of the prophet Nehemiah sing through my soul, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." I can feel it. Is anything too hard for the Lord? No!
Bring to him your impossible dreams, the burdens weighing you down. Leave behind the guilt, shame and loneliness. And like me, you'll be dancing with joy!
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