Continued from June 5 post –
Hope began to soar as they scrambled and clawed their way towards the shining object. When they finally reached the other side, they stared at another book that appeared to have light emanating from inside its pages. Merci was the first to pick it up. “Discover God through His Attributes,” she read.
Grace stared at the blue cover with white lettering for a long moment. “Can I see it?” Merci handed it to her and moved to look over Grace’s shoulder as she read, “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” Merci’s eyebrows raised like golden arches.
With renewed energy, Grace said, “Let’s keep going.” It felt wonderful to be in the daylight again.
By late afternoon, their stomachs protested their emptiness, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. “Let’s rest,” Merci pleaded. They sat down in the slanted rays of the sun and surveyed the barren area around them.
Grace shaded her eyes. “What’s that in the distance?”
Merci squinted. “I don’t know, but it looks like a single, small something or other in an oasis.” Curiosity got the best of them, as they stood up, brushed off the dust and hurried toward the structure that seemed to draw them with an intensity of the day’s sunshine.
They approached a stone well. Something was sitting on the lip of the well. Grace and Merci quickened their pace. There on the stone ledge was a small basket of fresh bread, cheese and fruit. Next to the basket perched a pitcher of ice water and two glasses. In their haste to drink and eat, they almost overlooked an item that lay beyond the pitcher. It was a large book. They looked around, but saw no one. Nevertheless, hope began to surge in their hearts once again.
The two women gulped the refreshing water and stuffed their mouths with bread and cheese. Grace ambled over to the book. It was opened to an underlined section. “Read it to me,” Merci said, after another gulp of water and a handful of grapes.
Grace cleared her throat and read…
To be concluded next week.
(1 John 4:14-15, NIV)