“Two things are infinite:
the universe and human stupidity;
and I’m not sure about the universe”
― Albert Einstein
A fresh cup of coffee and a cool morning breeze, a push of the porch swing and heaven is a moment away. I love this time of solitude and reflection about special memories. I recall when I was nine and dad took a pastorate in a small country town. It was a little boy’s dream to have so much to explore. The best part was the fishing ponds. Being the preacher’s kid given me the privilege of choosing anyone’s pond.
There was two things little boy’s wanted in the 1950’s. One was a pocket knife. He didn’t feel like a man until he had a pocket knife just like his father and grandfather. The other was a BB gun. One summer my younger brother saved his money and purchased a Daisy Model 111-40 Red Ryder .
He was excited and ready to shoot just about anything. Taking his invitation to place cans on the fence in exchange for a turn to shoot, I joined in his excitement. Dad gave us strict instructions not to shoot until he returned from the store. My brother poured little gold BB’s in the ammo hole. He scoped down the barrel and made peow, peow sounds with his mouth.
“Far be it from me to ever let my common sense
get in the way of my stupidity. I say we press on.”
Sherrilyn Kenyon
I asked if I could try. He handed me the gun and I set the stock against my cheek. My eyes slid down the barrel to the tin can focused in the v-shaped site. Now, you know that stupid little saying we over use and no longer think is funny? The one that says, “You can’t fix stupid?” I was about to see it come in to play. Someone erased the blackboard of sensibility and pulling the trigger possessed my very being. I wanted to be first to hear the ping of cans flying off the post.
But each person is tempted when he is lured
and enticed by his own desire.
James 1:14 (ESV)
I have no idea what came over me when I pointed and yelled, “Look!” My little brother’s eyes moved away and my deceit placed the barrel on top of his barefoot big toe and pulled the trigger.
Now, you may think that that was the dumbest most hurtful thing I could have done, and I agree, it was pretty bad, but let me continue. He screamed and he hollered and he cried and hopped around on one foot, for I don’t know how long.
“It couldn’t have hurt that bad,” I said.
The same power that possessed Moses to get angry enough to kill that centurion possessed my little brother that morning. He stopped hopping around, and his tear filled spirit looked me square in the eyes and said something that placed the fear of God, and of the devil all into one phrase.
“I’m gonna tell Dad.”
I don’t know about you, but with me, those words cut clear to the bone. Dad may have been a preacher, but the forty-four inch belt, called Old Joe, around his waist was more powerful than dynamite. When that belt hit my backside it moved me so much if the skin didn’t hold in the flesh it would splatter like a million stones off the side of a mountain.
“Beauty fades, dumb is forever.”
― Judy Sheindlin—Judge Judy
Shooting his big toe was pretty dumb, huh? Conversely, it was not the dumbest thing I ever did. My next few words filled that hallmark.
“If you want tell Dad, I’ll let you shoot my big toe.”
I screamed, and hollered, and cried and hopped around on one foot. Stupid was not to be fixed that day. I felt like the biggest imbecile, I believe he called me, in the world. We didn’t hear Dad’s arrival and when he heard our story he was shocked, but not surprised. Dad agreed my stupidity and pain was enough punishment and Old Joe stayed on his waist.
There is more hope for a fool than for
someone who speaks without thinking.
– Proverbs 29:20-
Sometimes we don’t understand others feelings when we do stupid things. We see the outside and think, it looks OK to me. We sluff it off and assume it can’t be all that bad. Remember, when someone says they hurt, they really do, especially if you are the one who caused the pain. To be one who is complacent and non-caring is the worst thing you can do. Pay close attention to others, in particular those you love, and what they may be feeling. Their suffering should be our foremost concern. You know, you may be the one who needs comforting someday. Oh, so that you will know stupid did get fixed and I have my senses back, I don’t own a gun to this day.
Thanks, I need that tonight…a friend tried to commit suicide…thank God he didn’t tonight. He is hurting indeed, we must listen to each other. thanks again.
Thanks Hammond! I will add your friend to my prayer list if you don’t mind! God bless you in your ministry and thanks for stopping by!
Andy
Oh Andy, the things we do as kids!!! I hope you don’t mind but I did have to smile wryly as I read this wonderful post, reminding me so much of the kinds of things my brother and I used to get up to growing up in the rural countryside of Suffolk, England in the 70s. In our case it was ‘I’m going to tell Mum!’
Hope you and your brother’s toes healed up ok!!
Also just had to mention that reading this reminded me of that wonderful film ‘A Christmas Story’, the part where the mother is always saying that her son is ‘going to shoot his eye out’ with his BB gun!!! My younger son had a BB gun and I was always saying the same thing to him! 😉
Thanks Sherri for your comment and of course you can smile wryly when you read my post. We all did a lot of crazy things in our younger years/ When I look back on them now I stand in unbelief of how crazy they really were and I have discovered I have so many more to tell you. Just remember your early days when your own children do something crazy and not be too harsh. Let me know from time to time if they do so I can laugh along with you, lol. Thanks Sherri for your support on my blog. I will certainly add your award to my blog this week.
Andy, there is nothing like shared pain to open our hearts to compassion. It sounds like you have not let this lesson of your youth be wasted. Oh. the things we do! Thank you for your humble sharing. This was both a fun and poignant read.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Thanks so much! I appreciate your visiting! God bless!
Beautiful post It’s good there are people out there that care enough to write their story so others can see. Thank you for visiting and following my blog
Thank you for your comment. You have a wonderful blog and I will certainly continue to follow it. God Bless!
Wow! Great post, Andy. I did have to laugh in places because I identified with some of the “stupid” stuff. Thanks for blessing my day with this. Natalie 🙂
Thank you so much Natalie! I’m glad it brought a smile to your face! It’s funny how when we are kids we do some crazy things! I’m thankful we can look back now and laugh! My brother and I discuss this and laugh quite often! 🙂
My sisters and I do the same. My dad wasn’t a preacher but I sure didn’t want to tangle with him or my mom for that matter. Just glad I didn’t get caught in some of the stupid things I did. I hope you have a great day, and thanks again for a great read. Blessings, Natalie
🙂
Oh memories…you brought me back to the hours spent picking bb’s out of my youngest brother and sisters shoes after they climbed our apple tree to be target practice for our other brother! No major injuries but lots of bruises and little holes in shoe leather. 🙂
That’s a humorous memory! Thanks for sharing it with me! I’m glad you enjoyed my post and hope you will come again! Thanks for your comment! Andy
I just followed you under this blog, Andy. For some reason, I never get an email that you have posted on my other. I am so sorry. I would never want to miss one of your posts, but it appears I have missed many. 😦
Thank you Skye! Pull your frown up to a smile and don’t let it fall back down! 🙂
lol…..I cannot figure it out. It says I should be receiving emails from your blog on my devotional blog. Hopefully, this will fix the situation.
Andy, thank you for being you. You are a blessing.
Thank you as well! I only post once each week, usually on Monday’s. Let me know if you don’t get one. Hug!
I will. Promise! Have a wonderful weekend!!
You too! 🙂
Ah, Andy. A funny and poignant post indeed.
I have learned that compassion outweighs nearly all else in life.
What a lovely story!
Thank you Denise for you compliment on my blog and thank you too
For following me! Have a great
Thanksgiving week and may God bless you !