2009 Writing Contest Winner Information

The 2009 Writing Contest participants submitted articles for one of three Guidepost Magazine departments: “Mysterious Ways,” “What Prayer Can Do,” or “Pass It On—People Helping People.”

Kathy Johnson – First Place Winner

Synopsis: During our lifetime we may wonder about the presence of God in our life. Why doesn’t He just tell me the answer, show me directly which person to marry, and so on. Like Gideon, we may even attempt a fleece. Sometimes, on looking back at a situation we realize the Lord protected us in ways we couldn’t see at the time. Mysterious Ways—The Hand of God is the true story of an incident in my family’s life in which not only we, but also those who witnessed the incident, knew immediately that there was a power greater than man’s at work. To God be the glory.

Delores Topliff - 2nd Place Winner

The Man in the Bushes: On a summer evening walk as tornado warnings built, my younger son rehearsed safety precautions for women walking alone, ending with pointing toward some shrubbery and saying, “Don’t go over there, there’s a man in the bushes.” Later returning that direction as the storm broke we were shocked to encounter a totally helpless handicapped man moaning in those bushes who could not have survived the night or storm without our help.

Carolyn Van Loh – Third Place Winner

Pass It On--The Golden Rule—Part 2
Synopsis: Adjusting to the role reversal in parent-child relationships

Adjusting to the role reversal in parent-child relationships is challenging. Carolyn’s article is based on that change. Her mother-in-law Betty tried to maintain the level of activity she was accustomed to for many years. Something as simple as doing a couple loads of laundry was a major sacrifice in her mind, probably because she was thinking about laundry days when she was younger. Carolyn was aware of the many times Betty had sacrificially taken time to help others over the years because she was reading Betty’s journals, beginning a few months before Carolyn’s husband was born in 1946.

Those receiving Honorable Mention:

• Sharon Knudson
• Lanae Doiron
• Don Roome