06.06.08 No Cuts
This is a story, as told to me by Redneck Neighbor, about a five year-old boy at football camp who said, “No cuts.” And then said it again.
Picture with me a strand of boys in a crooked line inching forward every few seconds. One by one they crouch and wait for a whistle. When it comes the coach braces himself against a foam rectangle and a small boy fires off an imaginary scrimmage line, sprints toward the coach and unleashes five years of angst on the foam opponent.
One boy tackles the dummy and likes it. Likes it so much he doesn’t want to wait to do it again. He shoves his way into the line in front of a boy named Gresham. Gresham uses a small amount of force, his forearm, and his nice words to remind the boy of the universal line standing rule: No cuts.
The impatient boy backs down. But before heading for the back of the line where he belongs he gives Gresham a shove. A parting shot is what it was, followed by a quick turn and slow walk to the end of the line.
There were voices in Gresham’s wee mind at that moment. One demanded justice, hated to see a bad guy get away, craved a fair punishment for this cowardly push and run. Another was his father’s voice, words spoken time after time when temper’s flare and fists are cocked. “We don’t hurt people who hurt us,” it said.
And there was a third voice too, this one belonging to a coach blowing a whistle and dishing out congratulatory slaps all morning for every dummy given what for.
Gresham listened to these voices and then stepped out of line, and tailed his enemy toward its end. Just before reaching it, Gresham wrapped his arms around the pusher’s waist, hoisted him off the ground, slammed him to the earth below like so much foam and said again, without words this time, and a little harder: No. Cuts.
And got back in line.
Paul J. said:
Dude. Gresham rules.
Krista said:
Oh. My. And then what happened?
said:
AWWWW! Boys are the bomb! I have 3 daughters, but 8 nephews and I totally believe God knew what he was doing when he handed out the babies in our family! Sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Bet that cutter will think twice next time!
anon4him said:
He really does “hit the hardest” doesn’t he?! Although this is amusing, I hope he’ll listen to your voice next time.
RevJeff said:
Dude,
Can I borrow Gresham the next time I fly somewhere?
He’s forgiven by the way… Jesus said so.
Shawn Bashor said:
Pacifism is a self-learned choice I suppose.
becca said:
oh my gosh. I’m just preparing myself for the future! I have two boys, 3 and 1, and it’s going to be like that all the time around here, I can feel it. one of mine is a spitfire, a strong-willed, “spirited” child if you will. I’m just trying to figure out how to harness his powers and get him to use them for good instead of evil… Gresham obviously already knows that. If there’s no judge and jury, you’re it.
said:
Yay for thinly veiled ethical dilemmas presented through story. Especially told through the eyes of a boy.
One of the many reasons I keep coming back to your blog Shaun.
Jen said:
Oh to have been a fly on that...grass. I’m a teacher and it’s stories like that that keep me comin’ back. Love those kids...most of the time.
Redneck Neighbor said:
It was awesome!!!! You really had to see the whole thing play out to get the full understanding and weight of the situation.
But it was awesome!!!
said:
so he ended up listening to the voice that wanted revenge? ahhh u left us hangingg lol wat happened next?????
Fred McKinnon said:
Shaun,
I dunno - I know we’re supposed to think “that’s not what he was supposed to do”, but instead - my heart swells up with pride for the kid, like I’m proud of him! Go figure.
See you in Austin, looking forward to doing the blogging/worship planning 2.0 series w/ ya. I think Suzie scheduled it so that it’s like a series, so I’ll be able to attend yours .. look forward to it.
See you there.
Fred
said:
Ah, poor Gresham. (And poor Other Kid, too!) Sometimes it’s sooo hard to resist!!