“It’s because of my crazy Christian parents.”
That is what I overheard my son say to his friend who had come over to hang out, explaining why he had lost his phone privileges for two days.
He intended that I overhear it, I’m sure.
I still couldn’t help but laugh.
A little background first.
He does not have “crazy Christian parents,” certainly not in the sense that he meant.
Like many, I have struggled with my faith my entire life. I don’t always go to Church and my devotion waxes and wanes. I have accepted that I am hardwired to my very core to be skeptical and question everything always. I assume this serves some purpose, that I am like this for a reason, and that the struggle itself is all part of His plan.
Still, I can’t help but think that when I die the timing needs to be juuusssst right so I get to go to heaven.
More like this:
“I believe Jesus Christ really is my Lor….. Erk!”
And less like this:
“I just don’t see how any of this can be rea…. Erk!”
Yeah, that latter scenario could end badly.
Or not.
Shoot, there I go again.
Anyway, my wife is much better than I am, but again, nothing remotely “crazy.” In fact, we ask very little of him in this regard, pretty close to the bare minimum. He sees things differently believing our demands that he go to Sunday school to be an inexcusable intrusion into his weekend.
In fairness, so did I when I was growing up (no surprise). I think most kids, particularly boys, feel that way about instruction of any kind. If “youth is wasted on the young,” perhaps education is too. Maybe we should just make them all work in the coal mines like we used to, have them get into those small spaces adults can’t reach, useful things like that.
Later, when they’re older and can appreciate it, we can teach them how to read and write.
I’d write my congressman but I’m on enough lists already.
In any case, this particular Sunday he was complaining to the point of being disrespectful, and that’s how he lost his phone for two days.
Later that morning when it was time for him to go to Sunday school, he was aghast that we were sending him down the street without his phone.
Son: “But what if something happens?”
Me: “Scream.”
What can I say? I’m old school.
His friend came over later in the day and they somehow managed to have a good time without phones.
Miracles do happen!
There’s a bigger issue at play here, one that Christians and people of all faiths are going to have to deal with, and are already dealing with: The increasing secularization of society.
Based on where I live, in the DC Metro area, we probably are “crazy Christian parents” in comparison to many if not most of the people in the area, and that can be a social burden of sorts.
However, we had dinner recently with a neighbor family at an event thrown by the local Knights of Columbus. It’s nice to be reminded that we are not alone, that there is a community here of believers.
My son later apologized for being disrespectful.
And I went to church this morning.
As the Klingons like to say, “Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam.”
(“Today is a good day to die.”)
😉
My Son’s “Crazy Christian Parents.”
You are definitely not alone.
What kinda of phone was it? That's the important question here.