The Challenge
How do we face a challenge? But firstly, what is a challenge? The dictionary
defines it originally as an accusation or a reproach.
Apparently if you were accused or reproached you answered by drawing battle
lines so we have come to regard a challenge as the command to man our battle
stations.
So a challenge is a summons to demonstrate our skills, to prove our worth. It
calls us to assert our identity and to stand up and be counted.
There is no escape from the world of challenges. We cannot just ‘be’ any more.
We each must prove our value and show that we have something significant to
contribute to the world.
It reminds me of a phrase I heard the other day – ‘if you’re not living on the
edge, you’re taking up too much space.’ But where have our times of silence
gone? What have we done with just watching the stars, contemplating them in
silence?
One of my pot plants recently got into the act of being challenged and put out
some particularly lovely blooms. It formed an especially attractive picture due
more to weather and soil than my skills and it was a joy to see. I would walk
outside just to look at it and smile at its beauty.
A visitor was so impressed she urged me to ‘put it in the local show next week.
It would certainly win a prize.’ She even offered her expertise to help me prune
and arrange it for show.
Strip, cut, prune and arrange those lovely blooms for a battle field?
I couldn’t. They were lovely simply because they were at peace.
Try it for yourself some time. Be at peace; just ‘be.’ Remember - the challenge
is over:
'Take heart! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33.
Elizabeth Price