Just a Thought, Not a Sermon: It Was a Good Year

1957 was a good year. One of the qualifying reasons, I was 12 years old. I spent most of my time outside, barefoot, playing in the Florida woods and swamps. I didn’t have a worry in the world except having to go to school. I hated school for various reasons. I never really made good grades. I played hooky when I could. My parents never knew about it. I hated going to school because there was a bully on the playground by the name of Larry. It was his goal in life to find me and beat the crap out of me. His family lived across the canal from us. His family raised hogs. Their pens were down at the edge of the canal. Sometimes after school I would hide in the tall grass on the other side of the canal and ping his hogs with my BB gun. It was fun to make them squeal. It never crossed my mind that Larry probably knew it was me and it was Get-Even Time on the playground. Elvis Presley was popular with the song, “All Shook Up”. A house cost $10,000. The average income was $4494. You could buy milk for a $1.00. Gas was 24 cents a gallon. Bread was 19 cents. Those were the good ole days. That was my life when I was 12 years old.

I didn’t have a choice going to church. In my family you just went, no questions asked. I spent most of my time trying to sneak out of church. When I was successful in sneaking, my favorite place to hide was in the bathroom. In my 12-year-old mind I figured it was better to spend an hour sitting on the john than in a church pew.

Since I spent most of my time sitting on the john in the bathroom, I don’t remember reading the Bible story about the 12-year-old boy in the temple. If you remember I spent most of my time trying to get out of church. After reading the account of his being in the temple when he was 12, I am not sure I would have wanted to be friends with him. Who in their right mind wants to go to church?

It was a good thing the world was not made up of people like me. Now that I am at the other end of my life, I thank God he had a 12-year-old son who wanted to make a difference. I have come to find out that little boy in the temple eventually saved my life. Jesus’ presence in the temple that day proved critical not only to me but to the future of mankind. Jesus saved this ole man. Whatever your age is today, that 12-year-old boy has the power to save you even if you don’t go to church!

Until next time, just a thought … not a sermon.