I was a dumb missionary kid. I just didn’t get stuff. We were back in the United States for a vacation from the Guatemalan grind. We visited a church and I met two new friends. We started hanging out. After a few days of playing, they let me in on their secret. They were secret crime fighters. Basically, ninjas.
Their initiation included: walking across a fall-time leafy field without making a sound, beating up an assailant while blindfolded, and a few other things that were rather intimidating for this 10 year-old boy to hear. It was a super squad of two.
And they fought crime. In the small retirement community of Kerrville, Texas. They were so much cooler than me.
I wanted them so badly to invite me into their elite crime fighting squad. But I knew I couldn’t stand up to the scrutiny of their initiations. I felt so worthless.
I’ve always marveled at the mini-Batmans I met in 1995. But I realized this morning: I think they were lying. I’m pretty sure they made up a story to make themselves feel cooler. Maybe it was their pretend game and I just didn’t get it.
It reminds me of a belief I hold strongly. All men (and 10 year-old boys) are frauds. We aren’t really as cool as we may appear to others. Our art may look super-human, but inside we’re just insecure 10 year-old boys that want to be cooler than we are.
And what that means for me, is that I don’t have to be intimidated by anyone. Ever. I don’t have to impress people. They’re frauds just like I am.
When I see someone that appears way cooler than me, I can simply wink at them. I know their secret. And they might know mine. We are all frauds. And that’s ok.
Let’s relax a bit – knowing we’re all just doing our best and none of us are as superhuman as we may appear.
that’s great.
and so true.
its freeing when you realize we are all equal.
the book of romans did that for me.
i call it the great equalizer.
we are all depraved.
we have the same opportunity for redemption.
we are equal.
that’s great.
and so true.
its freeing when you realize we are all equal.
the book of romans did that for me.
i call it the great equalizer.
we are all depraved.
we have the same opportunity for redemption.
we are equal.
That’s a really liberating thought. Thanks for sharing.
That’s a really liberating thought. Thanks for sharing.