Holy Hush

By Deborah Watson

Women World Leaders is pleased to present Holy Hush, written by Deborah J. Watson. Deborah is the Executive Director of Studio222films.com and curator of the Branson International Film Festival. A writer, producer, and director in the film industry, Deborah uses her talent to reach hurting people with a message of hope.

Holy Hush is written as an allegorical narrative based on scripture and Deborah’s Christian worldview. Rebekka, the main character that we are traveling with, is on a journey of making a life decision of living with or without her husband, Aaron. Progressing through this difficult time, Rebekka notices the “little things” circling her life and leading her to a decision. As the story unfolds (Holy Hush began in the January 2021 edition of VOT), we see this thirty-something-year-old city girl steal away into the wilderness to be alone and search the heart of God. As circumstances unfold, Rebekka finds herself cutting short her wilderness experience and befriending Felicity, who gives her a mission.

Part V

“I think you should go back and read Psalm 42 again. But this time, don’t skip over the parts you don’t like.” Felicity smiles with a warmth of compassion Rebekka desperately needs to feel.

“Not here, though. Go to the restroom. Then head to the docks. There’s a sailboat waiting to take you to the other side of the lake.” Felicity smiles and walks away before Rebekka can protest.

Rebekka gathers her rucksack, leaves five dollars on the table, and walks towards the restroom at the back of the diner.

A few minutes pass before she flushes the toilet and emerges from the stall to wash her hands. Rebekka catches a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. “How is it I look so old overnight?” Rebekka remembers her wedding day with Aaron and smiles as tears stream down her face.

Rebekka wipes the tears away before leaving the restroom. She already smells bad and looks old, no sense in adding “looks bad” to her resume for the day. As she enters the diner, she questions as to how long she was in the restroom. The empty diner is now full. People are standing in line, waiting to be seated. She bows her head and marches straight to the front door, making eye contact with no one.

The street is eerily quiet in comparison to when she arrived. Rebekka is relieved that the docks are on the same side of the street, just down the hill and around the corner so she can arrive in a timely manner. An arrival that felt like seconds instead of minutes.

Rebekka walks towards the docks and realizes that they are full of yachts, houseboats, and sailboats.

“Follow me.” Aaron’s voice thunders from behind her. The man walks by, and it’s not Aaron.

“And why should I follow you?” Rebekka stubbornly asks.

“Felicity told me I was to take you across to the other side.” The man glances over his shoulder with a charming smile Rebekka can’t refuse.

The weight of her rucksack causes her to feel every plank on the dock as it creaks under her feet. The fear of the planks breaking underneath her charges her forward swiftly.

“They get worse the closer to the boat we get. Might want to hold your breath and not move when we get to our pier.”

“Which one is it?” Rebekka asks.

“Number 12. The last one. Two more to go and we’re there.” The man replies.

Rebekka exhales as much as she can before she holds her breath. They arrive at pier 11, and she feels the boards turn soft from the years of wear and tear. Her left foot comes down on one that bows enough it should snap, but it doesn’t.

The man turns the corner at pier 12 and walks with such ease it’s almost as if he’s not even there. He stops next to the third boat on the left and reaches his hand out as Rebekka turns the corner. “By the way, I was joking. Just replaced the boards last week.”

Rebekka lets out an exasperated breath that she has been holding for nearly 10 seconds. She refuses his help as she steps on board, walks over to a seat, and sits.

The man unties the boat from the pier, jumps on board, and pushes the boat out into the water. “Do you want instructions now or later?” He asks Rebekka.

“Felicity told me that you were taking me to the other side. I’ll sit here and do my part. You go do your “captain of the ship” part.” Rebekka waves the man away as she places sunglasses over her eyes.

He shrugs, walks towards the steering wheel, and turns on the motor.

Rebekka is surprised at the sound of a motor when she is expecting the hum of the sail catching the wind. She turns sideways and lays back in the early afternoon light as the Holy Hush sailboat leaves the safety of the harbor.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN:

Rebekka knows, trusts, and follows Felicity’s instructions to wait and reread Psalm 42 until she arrives on the other side of the lake. In the waiting, she notices things are changing around her, including her own reflection in the mirror.

When the Bible becomes our mirror, we often see ourselves in a different light, even with tears streaming down our faces. Felicity knows that when Rebekka looks in the mirror of Psalm 42, there will be some parts she wants to skip over.

What was the last thing you personally read in the Bible that changed you so much, you could physically see it in the reflection in the mirror? Have you shared that experience with anyone so that it will inspire them?