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A Woman's View
by flybynite
It has been my experience that a story makes a point better than facts and figures. The story will hopefully at least entertain you. It may just even make a spiritual point if you ponder a little longer.
Spirituality: Staking a Claim
The young lad and his new bride had traveled with the wagon train half way across the world, or so it seemed to them, leaving behind friends, family and taking a chance on a new way of life. Men had come back and told of land with soil so rich it practically grew your crop for you!
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flybynite writes for Skateboard and manages several areas in the WomenCentral and UnderWire Communities on MSN.
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They had risked everything for this chance to own their own land. The day had finally arrived and all the future farmers lined up a mile wide waiting for the signal. When given they would race to find the land they wanted to claim for their homestead. Driving in the spike, they would raise their hands in victory! Freedom at last! Succeed or fail, it was in their own hands. The lad had been smart to save a small portion of his starting up money for a fresh horse. His wife had protested they could use the money for seeds to plant in their new fields. But the lad knew that first, he had to win the race or the land he would claim would be the poorest of soils.
The horse was a bit wild but the lad had worked with him for several days to form a bond. It had worked and the heart of the horse gave in to his commands the moment the signal had been given. Like the others, he had staked out the best land and routed what he hoped would be the quickest way to it. He ducked his head as low branches threatened his face and eyes. There was no path and he let his instincts guide him through the thickets.
Finally, up ahead he saw the flag that marked the land! He had made it! Then out of the corner of his eye he saw another lad racing towards the flag at the same time. He urged his horse on and beat out the other young lad by mere minutes. He felt victorious at last! He looked at the one he had beaten and saw the look of despair in his eyes. But wasting no time, he raced ahead to the next plot of land.
The victor sat there with the flag in his hand, thinking of the land that was left to claim. It was still good land, he rationalized, and he had sacrificed many times to keep their fresh horse money. Yet, something troubled his heart.
As he waited for the surveyors to come and record his deed, he had time to ponder his blessings. He heard a horse in the distance and turned and saw the lad he had beaten riding towards him. He pulled his hat down over his eyes to block the sun and saw he carried a rolled up document. The surveyors must be starting from the other end.
"Ye ran a good race, Nellie was just too tired out from the trip to do much better though the good Lord knoweth she tried!" he spoke as he dismounted and held out his hand.
He liked the looks of the man who would be a distant neighbor and the odd way he talked. It had a musical sound to it. He found out his name was Donnelly and he told him people called him Will. To take the sting out of winning, he told how he had bought a fresh horse for the race.
"Aye, I thought of that one too but me wife done borne us a child before the end of the journey," he said with pride, "it took the little extra we had set aside. The land is not bad, not as good as this one, but I know we can make it through the homesteading. Be ye married yerself now?"
"Yes, we married on a Saturday and left for the West on Monday! She has a fierce loyalty about her, never hesitated a moment though it meant probably never seeing our folks again." He looked at Donnelly and realized Donnelly had traveled an even greater distance. Will thought about all that had been left behind and thought about Donnelly's wife trying to settle into a temporary shelter while recovering from birth. It was at that moment, a thought came to his mind and he looked up to God for wisdom. Finally, feeling a peace in his heart he looked once again at this total stranger and put his faith on the line.
"I know this is going to sound crazy, us being strangers and all," he began, "but it seems to me we are about to take on the impossible, trying to farm, build shelters, provide food for our families and our wives having no one to talk to for maybe months. What would you think of putting our lands together, seeing as how they are back to back anyway, and building one big place for our families, sharing what we have, until we get settled? We can build our separate houses later! Though I must ask you one thing, are you a Christian man?"
Donnelly looked at the young American and thought he was crazy to trust him, knowing nothing about him! But what he said made sense and he had worried about his wife and their new baby. Lord, he thought, is this the help I prayed for? Can I trust this man? He felt a quiet peace come over his heart and he looked the stranger in the eye.
"I be a God fearing Catholic sir, all my life and my wife too!" he said proudly. "Our wives be thinkin' we're fools no doubt, but the offer sounds fine to my ears. " He held out his hand to shake and seal the bond.
Will felt horrified! He had just made an offer, he looked up to God in alarm, I even asked your advice, he reminded the Lord! And you go and give me a Catholic? What would his wife think? But he had made an offer and he had never gone back on his word before. Suddenly, the wind started to blow and the sky darkened and Will felt a chill go through his body.
You asked for my help when you crossed the plains. When the fever hit, you prayed to me too. Now you ask for a partner and I give you one that believes in Me.
Will knew as he examined Donnelly's face, that this was indeed a man of faith, even if different. He shook his hand and the sun peeked out its approval and lightened the darkened sky. They would both have a lot of explaining to do when they talked that night to their wives, but for the moment, they talked of the future and dreamed as young men do.
When was the last time you staked your life on faith? What were you willing to give up in order to have a spiritual life? Or did you think you could mold it like the consolidation of student loans? Did you try it all on your own, only to find it got tangled up in life? Did you not see the friend reaching out his hand? Pride can blind us sometimes. Did you wear your faith proudly, but could not open your arms when a brethren of another faith tried to embrace you? Then wondered why the world of faith seemed to be shrinking?
The stories of our past are often the answers to our future.
Next: A true story of a Florida State University's campus ministry that decided their campus needed a safe place for students to come, sit, think and pray, or search for peace in their hearts. It wasn't a complicated plan. Just a garden with a cross in it that would be lit up to ensure safety. Then God got involved and everything changed. Could they change too?
© 1999 flybynite
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