Summer meant no school when we were growing up, which meant no homework, no
going to bed early, and lots of time to play. In our neighborhood we were into
building forts, borrowing wood from the new homes they were building, and then
hanging out in them. Even sleeping out in them with our buddies, making the
summer nights special. I was the youngest and nerdiest on our street, and was
able to sleep out in Joey Coleman’s big tent with some of the older guys. After
begging to sleep out with them, it was having your parents OK it, and then off
to the Sweet Shop to spend your 15 cents wisely for candy, as it would have to
last all night. Maybe score an Archie comic, for Betty and Veronica, as the
older guys, Kenny was a sophomore and Joey in eighth grade knew all about sex
and girls. And on some special nights would sneak a Playboy from under their
dad’s underwear drawer for them to look at, giving me an occasional look, as I
was too young to look, I was told. But as it got dark, and the Coleman lantern
light got dimmer, it was time for their stories, all about life in high school,
maybe they would let me sit on Joey’s new ten speed, someday, and the ghost
stories. Seems every area has its share of ghost stories, and in the dark they
could be pretty scary. Never knew if they were made up or real, this was
reality, and often times you were glad the older guys were there to protect you,
just in case. In the dark, even birds sounded scary, trains sounds seemed to be
heading right for our tent, and when bored, time spent looking for UFO’s in the
sky. With my imagination on high alert after the stories of girls, ghosts, and
things that went bang in the night. With only the smell of the canvas tent to
remind us that it was summer...the best time of the year.
But sometimes we would wander the street with our flashlights, and how
everything was so different, and quiet. Even the old grouchy neighbor’s house
was quiet, but somehow we knew he was spying on us. Every car that went by
within hearing was out to get us, and sneaking back unscathed had us falling
asleep. Only to awake a few hours later, exhausted and tired, with whoever’s
back yard we slept in, their mother making us breakfast. Learning at an early
age, no one cooks as good as your Mom, all eggs aren’t sunny side up, and toast
can be burnt and eaten, showing manners we called it. Then home before eight
o’clock, shower and off to bed. Later when meeting your friends at the park and
bragging about your night out, you were the big guy, where as last night you
were the little guy. From Playboy girls to ten speeds, to ghost stories and
Archie comics, you were the man. Wiped out, bed coming early, except when you
got the call, “hey, do you want to sleep out tonight?” And the sudden burst of
energy was all it took to be ready. Sleep and rest would have to wait, it was
summer, and it only lasted ten weeks, and their were new stories to hear, old
stories to be retold, and more arguments over who would you pick, Betty or
Veronica? School was out for summer, long before Alice Copper made it a hit
song, sleep would have to wait for when school started. Summer was borrowed
time from life, and no better summer nights were spent than those with your
older buddies, sleeping out in a tent in a back yard. If you are nodding and
smiling you know what I mean...
We didn’t know it then, but God was always watching us, and watching out
for us. Still is today, which should be a scary thought for some of you. But
not true from God’s perspective, as he is love, and in him we find no darkness
at all, or his wishing to scare us. Funny how we enjoyed being scared by the
ghost stories, the stories of the unknown, and about the responsibilities of
growing up, but we are never afraid of God. We may fear situations, fear evil
people, but Jesus’ claim of never leaving us or forsaking us means he is always
with us, no matter what dark path we go down. To guide us out, to experience
the evil he delivered us from, and to see his light, so we can live in him. Yet
many read how we are to fear the Lord, and how it is the beginning of wisdom,
like being scared will make us better. I was scared too often of tests in
school, of bullies, of being caught, I didn’t want God chasing and scaring me
too. But here the word fear means respect and revere. Just like I envied my
older friends, and held them in a high esteem, God wants us to honor him the
same way. To be worshipped and given the proper place of honor, as the creator
of the universe. To worship and honor his son Jesus, who is the way back from
sin, and who loves us as we are, and his spirit, who guided us to Christ, and is
given to us to indwell in us forever. We are never alone, yet many tempt God,
don’t trust or believe him, and show him no honor. Some, fools the Bible calls
them, deny him altogether. How easy it was for us to believe in ghosts, to look
for UFO’s, but to deny the truth of Jesus Christ. Yet God is patient so that
none of us perish. Trust, honor, and obey, things we are told to do to our
teachers, police, and the bigger guys, yet we fail when it comes to God. Aren’t
you glad he doesn’t look at us like we look at him?
Many a scary story is told in the Bible, some so gory they would not be
shown on TV. But in each case, God gave the enemy a chance to repent, to honor
him, to fear him and respect him. Yet too many stories end for them in total
destruction, with no more chances to change. They have been given the evidence,
but chose the lies instead. Choosing misery over joy, stress over peace, and
Satan over Jesus. Two men born of the same father, yet one blessed, and one
cursed. Ishmael, the one born out of sin, would be a man who would cause
dissent among men, he would turn his hand against man, and they would turn their
hand against him. His mother had been told to return to the circumstance that
threatens you and I will rescue you, and she does, claiming that God is the God
who sees all. Ismael chose a different route. Yet his brother Isaac, the one
who was promised, would find the blessings of God and be tested, yet found
worthy. Both the same choices, but both with different choices made. And today
God still calls us back to him, return and I will restore you. Submit and honor
me, and I will bless you....
So he has given us summer, to enjoy with friends, to show off his
handiwork, to show how he revives all things that winter had taken the life
from. To extend the day so we can enjoy it more, and give us the night skies to
show how infinite the universe really is. And how it is made for us. Consider
the fact he is God, shouldn’t that be enough to worship and adore him? Those
summer nights in the tent made me feel cool, because the older guys allowed me
hang with them. It was only later when I became the older guy that I too
enjoyed how the younger ones looked up to me. Somehow when I heard the noises
in the night, I knew they would protect me. Today I can say I know God the same
way, he takes care of his kids. Jesus calls us friend. I have chosen Jesus as
the better way, now if I could only decide between Betty, or is it Veronica?
Some of us never grow up...
love with compassion,
Mike
mattehw25biker.blogspot.com