THE HOLE

Inspired by The Good Samaritan (Luke 10)

I was running along in the sunshine enjoying each day of my new Christian life, when I was suddenly and unexpectantly struck from behind and fell down, deeper and deeper into a black hole.

My mind was fractured in the fall, relationships broken, emotions shattered. I was left battered and bruised, my wounds open and raw. I was trapped in the hole with stale air, dank, close walls and no way out. Only a glimpse of the sky could be seen far away at the hole entrance.

Hours turned into days, days to months and months to years. I slowly became used to my hole. Hope of release faded as the warmth of sunshine of my face and the freshness of the autumn breeze became distant memories.

After some time, a man of theology passed by my hole. He peered down and said to me, “Christ died for your sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15)”. Then he closed his bible, crossed the road and continued on his way.

A Kids’ Mission leader ran up to my hole. She looked down into the hole and sang down to me, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 3)” Then she skipped off down the road, leaving me behind.

A weathered old face became a regular visitor to my hole. He stood at the edge and sneered down at me. "It is futile to serve God. What did you gain by carrying out his requirements? (Malachi 3)”. “Your tears have been your food day and night. Where is your God? (Psalm 42)”

I lost all hope of rescue and relief, when a vision appeared at the entrance to my
hole - a beautiful woman. She did not pass by. She leapt down into the hole beside me. She cradled my head, clasped my hand and rocked me gently as I cried.

She comforted me with compassionate words, “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly you are wasting away, inwardly you are being renewed day by day. These light and momentary troubles are achieving for you an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4)”.

She assured me that there would be a time when I would be rescued from my hole, “The Lamb at the center of the throne will be your shepherd; he will lead you to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from your eyes. (Revelation 7)"

Then she looked upwards and said for me, “You will call and Jill will answer you, you will long for the creature your hands have made (Job 14)”

Then I heard a tender whisper, “Jill, I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness (Jeremiah 3)”.

And a gentle light flickered to life in my hole.