The Cool Club
I was in Indiana a few weeks ago, visiting Gateway Woods. I spent most of my time holding Josiah and talking to Kurt and Kristen. I also stopped by the East House and talked with Mark and Tammy about 'The Gift of Mercy (available in your local AC church foyer or by sending a letter to Ed Schwartz c/o Bluffton AC Church, Bluffton, IN--I don't know the zip).' Mark gave me a copy and told me how it was changing his and tammy's lives. When I left East House, I could hear shouts of children behind the white building to my right, where the treefort is. I headed that way.
Up in the tree fort, Tyler was bawling out one of the kids for bringing her aunt and uncle to his hideout (they were just talking on the picnic tables below, not bothering him). I climbed up to where he was and greeted Abry and James, who were sweeping leaves and dirt with brooms. I asked if Tyler had his own broom. They said no, he's the boss, we're workers. Good grief. Anyway, I smoothed things over between Tyler and the girl below and set about pushing the dirt out of the fort with Abry and James. It was fun. I felt 4 again. Until...
Tyler, who had been crying (he cries when he's really worked up, not a sissy cry, but more like his blood gets so hot that his tears boil up out of his eyes. I used to cry like that alot when I was his age. It leaves the worst headaches after you're done though. C.S. Lewis, in The Horse and His Boy slips in this bit of wisdom, "crying isn't so bad of itself, but rather, when you're finished, you still have to decide what to do."), sniffled and said, "Could you leave?" What?
"Could you leave, please." Why, Tyler? "Because, I want to tell them secrets and I can't tell them with you here." Oh. Well, in that case, by all means, I'll get out of your hair. Bye Abry, bye James. Just out of curiousity, why can't you tell the secrets with me here? "Because you're not part of the cool club." Hmm, who IS in the cool club? "Joel, me, Abry, James, lots more, in fact, I forget because there are so many." If you forget how do you know I'm not in it? "Because you're not cool."
That hurt. Anyway, I left, went home, read 'The Gift of Mercy,' and tried to forget that I'm not in Tyler's cool club. His uncle got married last weekend, and I refilled coffee at the reception, so I stopped at his table on my rounds and asked if I could be in the cool club. He told me I had to ask Joel, because he's in charge of who gets in. So, I swallowed what little pride I have and asked Joel to be in the cool club. (Sounds like 5 grade all over again, doesn't it?) He said he'd think about it and get back to me. I said, just tell Tyler when you decide ok, because if I tell him, he might not believe me.
I'm in. I am the Associate of Knowledge in the Cool Club. I am the Cool Club's nerd. I was promoted to Associate of Knowledge after I complained about my title of "Lackey," a shallow victory.
I've discovered something in the 4 days I've been in the Cool Club, but Mark Twain beat me to the punch. "I wouldn't want to be in any club that would want me as a member."
Sigh, the grass is no greener here. I am no cooler.
Up in the tree fort, Tyler was bawling out one of the kids for bringing her aunt and uncle to his hideout (they were just talking on the picnic tables below, not bothering him). I climbed up to where he was and greeted Abry and James, who were sweeping leaves and dirt with brooms. I asked if Tyler had his own broom. They said no, he's the boss, we're workers. Good grief. Anyway, I smoothed things over between Tyler and the girl below and set about pushing the dirt out of the fort with Abry and James. It was fun. I felt 4 again. Until...
Tyler, who had been crying (he cries when he's really worked up, not a sissy cry, but more like his blood gets so hot that his tears boil up out of his eyes. I used to cry like that alot when I was his age. It leaves the worst headaches after you're done though. C.S. Lewis, in The Horse and His Boy slips in this bit of wisdom, "crying isn't so bad of itself, but rather, when you're finished, you still have to decide what to do."), sniffled and said, "Could you leave?" What?
"Could you leave, please." Why, Tyler? "Because, I want to tell them secrets and I can't tell them with you here." Oh. Well, in that case, by all means, I'll get out of your hair. Bye Abry, bye James. Just out of curiousity, why can't you tell the secrets with me here? "Because you're not part of the cool club." Hmm, who IS in the cool club? "Joel, me, Abry, James, lots more, in fact, I forget because there are so many." If you forget how do you know I'm not in it? "Because you're not cool."
That hurt. Anyway, I left, went home, read 'The Gift of Mercy,' and tried to forget that I'm not in Tyler's cool club. His uncle got married last weekend, and I refilled coffee at the reception, so I stopped at his table on my rounds and asked if I could be in the cool club. He told me I had to ask Joel, because he's in charge of who gets in. So, I swallowed what little pride I have and asked Joel to be in the cool club. (Sounds like 5 grade all over again, doesn't it?) He said he'd think about it and get back to me. I said, just tell Tyler when you decide ok, because if I tell him, he might not believe me.
I'm in. I am the Associate of Knowledge in the Cool Club. I am the Cool Club's nerd. I was promoted to Associate of Knowledge after I complained about my title of "Lackey," a shallow victory.
I've discovered something in the 4 days I've been in the Cool Club, but Mark Twain beat me to the punch. "I wouldn't want to be in any club that would want me as a member."
Sigh, the grass is no greener here. I am no cooler.
posted by The Mentors | 9:25 AM
3 Comments:
You've taken me back to places and times I have not been to for a long time. You have a talent only God can give. Love, Dad
I'm sitting here trying to figure out why the president pro tem of the Eminent Order of Pranksters is looking for membership in a new club! I definitely think we need to update what the by-laws have to say about dual-membership at our next meeting, just for the sake of clarity.
'til then,
The least member of God's Cool Enough for Him Club
I accept your admonishment, Your Presidency, and I hereby revoke my membership and do denounce the aformentioned "cool club" wholeheartedly. Sign me up for that Cool enough for Him Club.
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