The National Bible Bee: A Dose of Hope

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

   (Psalm 119:105)

It was New Years Eve, 1991 (I think). I would have been about 24 or 25 years old. At that time I was living in Vancouver, BC, Canada and sharing a home with my mother and my older brother. We had just spent a very pleasant evening ringing in the New Year at the home of my Aunt and her expanding portion of the family. We had done a lot of reminiscing and even more laughing as we played the "home version" of Jeopardy. Not the electronic or computer version. Just the old fashioned board game version. My Aunt taking on the Alex Trebek role.

In order to give our answer (pardon me, I mean our "question"), we each had been given a dog or child's toy instead of a buzzer. My "buzzer" was a squeaky toy in the form of a mouse that belonged to their dog Krikit. I knew the game was "rigged" when I would squeeze that thing several times really hard and never get it to make the slightest squeak. While all Mom had to do was give the slightest shake to make her baby rattle work. 

If you're like me, in the days coming up before New Years you consider what Resolution to make and try to guess how many hours it will be before you break it. That particular year I had decided to try something different. I thought I would try and memorize an entire chapter from the Bible. I had memorized small verses from the Bible before, but had never even attempted an entire chapter. The one I picked was in the book of Romans, chapter 12. Why I picked that one, I don't know. But the truly stupid thing I did was to tell people I was doing it!

So, as Mom, me and my brother were travelling home from my Aunt's at about 2:00 am that first day of the new year, Mom turned to me in the back seat of the car, where I was being very quiet and said, "Well? Let's hear it." I knew exactly what she was referring to. Ah, mothers. They never let you off the hook. No matter how old you get.

So I "bit the bullet", took a deep breath and launched into my recitation. When I was finished, even my brother was impressed. And when you can get an older brother to cough up spontaneous praise, out loud ("Wow. That's great, Laura!"), you know you've really done something.

To this day that chapter is still "mine". I can get a little muddled in the middle, but it's all there. "Hidden in my heart", as well as in my brain. I mentioned I don't know why I chose that particular chapter, but it certainly is a "juicy"one. There's really no topic it doesn't hit on and God has used it many times and in many ways to speak to me personally through the years since then.

Tonight I watched the Live Webcast of Opening Ceremonies of The National Bible Bee coming from San Antonio, Texas. Children from across the United States have spent the past months memorizing Bible verses in order to compete. Just like their Spelling Bee counter parts memorize words from the Dictionary. But as amazing and inspiring as a spelling bee can be, a Bible Bee (the first time I've seen one) is even more so. Not just because they have more to memorize, but because it's something I know (from experience) will stay with them for the remainder of their lives. The Words of God ready to flow at the moments when they will need them most.

One thing different from watching a mere spelling bee (as great as my love for words is) was that during this Bible Bee, I was simultaneously and spontaneously laughing, crying and clapping as the winners and Semi-finalists names were called and a parade of young people went up to take their place on the stage. 
What was even more interesting is that several of them were doing the same thing I was. Openly laughing, crying and clapping as they hugged each other.

When you start getting older and the years are piling up, you are forever noticing what young people are doing. Especially (ESPECIALLY) if you are a parent. When we are gone our children will be taking our place in running the affairs of the world.

Less than a week ago we watched aghast as people in Paris were either gunned down or blown up and we wonder what will the future hold. And the future, which is usually frightening just because it contains the unknown, becomes even more frightening when you think of how many people there are in it who are ready to do the ultimate of evil things. 

Then you see a group of young people who dedicated hours and hours of the past year in memorizing the Bible. It's true there are cash prizes involved, but most of those who win money will be using it for college or university tuition. 

Tonight was just the Opening Ceremonies of the National Bible Bee. But if you want a good dose of hope, to know that the future isn't quite as grim and dark as it sometimes appears, perhaps it's a good idea to tune into the broadcasts. It will be taking place over the next few days. I'll be watching too. Letting hope replace my cynicism. Letting laughter steal my fears. Letting my tears wash away my grief. And clapping until I get "itchy palms".

Follow the Links below to get the information you need. See the widget at this blog (in the right column) for the Live broadcasts. And let "hope spring eternal" once again.

FYI:  There is a LIVE WEBCAST screen/widget here (at the top) of the Right Column.


National Bible Bee LIVE WEBCAST Schedule

National Bible Bee HOMEPAGE

National Bible Bee LIVE WEBCAST




Sincerely, Laura-Lee (Was Here)

Laura-Lee Was Here (PERSONAL BLOG)