THE WINNER

"And the winner of the Bible Knowledge Contest is, Eric Smith," announced Miss Crabtree.

Eric stood up proudly and scram­bled to the front. "Of course he was the winner," Eric thought, as he accepted the coveted prize of five dollars from the teacher. No one else in the class knew half the stuff about the Bible he knew. He probably knew more about the Bible than even the preacher.

Eric had dreamed of winning the money. It was more money than he had ever owned. Life was hard on the small farm where he and his folks had recently moved. Every penny went toward food for the family and fixing up the old farm they now called home. But this money was his. He could do whatever he wanted to do with it. For a whole year, Eric had read and studied each week until he could see the words in his mind when he closed his eyes. Finally the hard work had paid off and the money was his.

Eric had been so busy doing his chores and working on the contest that he hadn't even decided what he was going to buy with his money. He must spend the money quickly, before it burned a prover­bial hole in his pocket. It was a good feeling to be rich, the pos­sessor of five whole dollars. But none the less, he was anxious to exchange the hard earned money for some treasure he could enjoy.

Convincing Mom that he could handle the long ride into town by himself was another matter. Dad had just been into town the week before and probably would not be going back for another month or maybe longer. Eric couldn't stand the thoughts of waiting a month.

"Mom, please let me ride into town to spend my money," Eric pleaded. "I'm big enough and I'll be careful. Honest I will."

 "Well, I don't know," Mom rea­soned. "We'll just have to see. Let me think about it."

 "Does that mean I can go? Does it, Mom? Does it? Oh please Ma­ma, I'm big enough!" 

"Well, let me talk to ya Dad. We'll see. Go read ya Bible. It's almost bedtime."

 After hanging his clothes on a rusty nail that protruded from the wall, he reached for his Bible as he had done since he was old enough to read. Realizing what he was doing, he drew back an empty hand. "No, I think I've read the Bible enough to last me a long time. I think I'll just rest tonight."

 He wiggled around on the lumpy bed trying to find a comfort­able place before his brother joined him for the night.

 Bobby was surprised to see Eric settled in bed so quickly and gent­ly teased him. "What? You first in bed tonight? You mean you're not gonna be burning the midnight oil studying ya Bible?"

 "No! I figure I know all about the Bible I'll ever need to know. I don't think I'll be doing much Bible studying for awhile."

 "Wait a minute, little brother. Studying ya Bible is a lot like d­rinking water. Just cause I drink all the water I want today doesn't mean I won't need to drink some more tomorrow."

 Angrily Eric spewed "How 'bout just blowing out the lantern. I'm trying to get some sleep." 

"All right! No need gettin' all huffy. Good night, Eric." 

"Good night, Bobby."

 Eric popped out of bed the next morning like a cork and anxiously began to question his mom. "Did you ask Dad if I can ride into town by myself Saturday?"

 "Your Dad isn't real wild about your going so far all by your­self."

 "Awe Mom! It's not far. Besides, I'm not a little kid any­more."

 "Dad said if ya be careful, he guessed it will be all right," Mom rubbed his head as she replied.

 "All right! I'll be careful, honest Mom."

 "Now you best be gettin' ya chores done."

 Eric could hardly contain his ex­citement. He could actually go into town by himself Saturday and spend his money. It seemed like Saturday would never arrive, but finally it did. Eric didn't need any­one to wake him up that morning. The first ray of light caught him buttoning his faded brown shirt. He made so much noise doing his chores that the entire family gave up their endeavors for additional sleep and climbed out of their cozy beds. All the chores were done in record time. Sweat dripped off Eric's face as he came inside to wash up for breakfast.

 "Looks like it's gonna be a real scorcher today, Son. Better be sure to take along some water. It's a long ride into town and on a hot day like this a fellow could get mighty thirsty." 

Eric gobbled his breakfast and washed down the last of his bis­cuit with cold milk, that had been chilled in the well. Eric stuffed his hand deep into his pocket search­ing for his money. It was a good feeling to have all that money to do whatever he wanted to do with it.

 With a hurried goodbye Eric mounted the hum­pbacked horse and started toward town. After passing the last house before getting to town, he realized he had forgot­ten to bring water with him. He agonized over the situation. He knew how impor­tant it was to have water on a hot day like this. But on the other hand it would take too much time to go back now. As he slowed to turn his horse around he remem­bered a water hole his Dad had stopped by once. It was a little off the trail, but not nearly as far as having to go back home now. He decided to continue the ride to town and just take a little detour by the water hole.

 It was a beautiful day. Eric thought of his brother's advice. "Just 'cause you have enough to drink today doesn't mean you won't be needing something more to drink tomorrow." His brother treated him like a baby. He didn't need to read his Bible everyday. He had studied enough for a life­time. He had won the contest and now he could spend his time doing more important things. Things that really count, like fishing and stuff.

 The sun began to glare brighter and hotter as it rose steadily in the sky. Eric repeatedly wiped sweat from his face pro­duced by the hot summer sun. Eric wished he had brought water. He had been around the farm long enough to know how important it was to have water with him. Why hadn't he taken a few minutes to go back and get it? Just knowing he lacked water made Eric feel even more thirsty. His mouth and throat felt scratchy and parched.

 Eric spurred the horse, hoping to reach the water hole as quickly as possible. His eyes searched franti­cally for a side road leading to the water hole. "I should have come to it by now. It must be up ahead," Eric reasoned. He rode a few yards. Confused, he circled back. He followed a narrow path he hoped would lead to the water hole. Somehow it just didn't look right, but he had to find water. His eyes searched the area for a land­mark that would help him get his bearing and locate the water hole. His throat hurt and he felt scared. Nothing looked familiar to him. He turned his horse to go back to the well traveled road leading to town. It was then he realized, somehow he had wandered off the path that led to the road. He couldn't re­member how to get back. "Don't get excited he told himself. Stop a minute and get your bearing." A scraggly tree looked familiar, so he headed toward it. Reaching the tree, he realized he was going in the wrong direction. His eyes searched the area for something, anything that looked familiar. It was hopeless. The realization swept over him causing his body to quiver. He was LOST.

Eric climbed off his rusty colored horse. What was he gonna do? He didn't have any water and now he was lost. His Dad had told him to stay on the trail. Hot tears stung his face. What was he gonna do? He must remain calm. He felt afraid. Suddenly overwhelmed with "what ifs," he fought back the tears. What if he never found the trail back to the main road? What if he had to spend the night out in the middle of no where? With his mind whirling, a scripture he had memorized for the contest bubbled up to his consciousness. "What time I am afraid I will trust in thee." And then another scrip­ture. "God has not given me a  spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." The words seemed to flood his mind bringing a sweet peace. As Eric stood beside his horse trying to decide what he should do next, he realized he no longer felt afraid. The verses he had memo­rized had helped him. He didn't feel much like a winner, but he knew God was there with him. He'd learned a verse 'bout that too. Right now those verses he'd learned were more valuable to him than the five dollars crumpled in his pocket.

 "Eric! Eric!" Could someone really be calling his name? He strained his eyes to see. It was Bobby. Eric jumped on his horse and galloped to Bobby's side. 

"Why did you get off the trail?" quizzed Bobby.

 "Well, I was thirsty and I thought I remembered a water hole around here someplace." Eric explained.

 "The water hole is a ways back. You missed it. You should have brought some, but here have some of mine," offered Bobby.

 Another scripture flashed into his mind as he gulped the refreshing liquid. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so pant I after thy word."  

"How did you find me?" Eric ques­tioned between gulps.

 "Dad had me follow you this morning. He knew how impor­tant this was to you, but he didn't want anything bad to happen to ya neither. He had me wait a while then ride behind ya."

 "Well, come on. It's time we were getting into town. Lead the way big brother."

 Eric had been wrong about many things today. He was wrong 'bout where the water hole was, bout leaving the water behind and 'bout getting off the road. The worst thing was thinking he already knew all he needed to know 'bout God's word. Just like you never quit needing a drink of water, ya never quit needing more of God's word. Eric had learned many les­sons that day. He didn't plan to forget any of them either.

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