Hey Hippie! You Smoke!

Wow. My friend, Mat, has posted a memory I often reflect upon and laugh about. Take a few minutes to visit From the Morning and read the story before you read the rest of this post (don’t worry, the link will open in a new window).

He recalls the events quite well. However, he did not do the description of Harlan P. running toward us justice. This kid was slightly heavy-set. Before I finished the first half of my insult, Harlan had lowered his head and literally started barreling our direction like a charging bull or all-star running back - the basketball still bouncing behind him as he did so. I thought we were dead for sure.

Today, we laugh about that event. We laugh, mainly because we got away with it. Many months ago, I suggested he write about it. It’s funny he should pick now to blog about it though.

Mat is correct in saying that I often would say and do things without fear or concern for the repercussions. I still do. As I have recently started reflecting upon my personality and character, I almost wish I would have gotten caught and pounded that day. No, I don’t have a death wish or enjoy pain. However, there are some things that are better to be discovered when you are nine years old instead of twenty-nine years old — or more.

Perhaps if I had learned my lessons then, I would avoided a lot of troublesome moments that my ignorance and disregard for the feelings of others have caused.

Why was Harlan P. such a mean kid? It reminds me of a Thousand Foot Krutch song called “This is a Call” that goes:

And he tells everyone a story,
Cause he thinks his life is boring
And he fights so you won’t ignore him,
Cause that’s his biggest fear
And he cries, but you’ll rarely see him do it
And he loves but he’s scared to use it
So he hides behind the music
Cause he likes it that way
And he knows, he’s so much more than worthless
He needs to find the surface
Cause he’s starting to get nervous

Maybe Harlan P. was the way he was because he didn’t want to feel ignored like he may have been. Maybe if Mat or I had asked to play basketball with Harlan P. instead of doing the childish thing we had, we could have been a blessing to Harlan P. and made a difference in his life. We could have helped him “find the surface” — who knows, we could have been great friends.

While that is doubtful, you just never know. What if, when Mat’s wife asked about where Harlan P. is today, he could answer her? What if Mat could say, “Harlan turned his life around, sought help and is now a youth leader in Ohio.”

I think, now, I would rather have been a part of that story than the actual one. All of this, of course is speculative. What’s done is done and we cannot go back.

It’s funny, as I have been reading my daily Bible readings for the Bible in 90 Days Challenge, I have reflected a lot on my own character. One verse in Proverbs says: “humility brings wisdom” and many other versus throughout the Bible speak of the virtues of humility. Maybe I should have been humiliated that day.

Another thing I have noticed through my readings is the many references to “the pit” — symbolizing Hell. Again, ironically we referred to our close nit group of friends from those days and through high-school as “The Pit.” We weren’t a gang and never once thought of ourselves as one, but it does make you think and consider things from a different perspective after having become Christians.

So, since Mat asked for my perspective, there it is. I really, REALLY doubt this is what he expected, but there it is nonetheless.