Presenting Time and Place

Hi, I'd like to tell you a little story about two boys, about interaction, and so about society, in a microcosm.

There was a little boy who attended a local school. Let's call him Place. Each day he had classes to learn in and other children to interact with. Unfortunately, this young boy, who was very open and friendly, had a little trouble being like others.

When teachers were preoccupied with their teaching and students were focused on their studenting, one older boy, let's call him Present, often attempted to belittle this other little boy, Place. Present was not very happy, always trying to get attention, and this delayed his life, and he was held back.

Through no fault of his own, other than being gentle-natured and most often happy, this boy became the focus of negative attention from the older boy, Present.

Whenever he would do something well, the older boy, Present, would attempt to intimidate him with scowls, sideways glances, or private comments, making Place feel self-conscious. In a short time, he would recover and become his usual happy self again. This displeased the older boy, as he was confused over how light and uncomplicated this Place was. He would think to himself, 'How can he bounce back so quick? What has he got to be so cheerful about? It embarrasses me just to look at the guys shirt!'

So, one day, in the school cafeteria, Present was showing all the other kids what he could do, and was telling them all the things he'd done. You see, his father owned a big factory and so he could get the latest toys or in style running shoes easily. He told them how he had been able to get food for people who were poor and give them toys of the latest and best kind, and that he did this often. He always made sure to tell them it was because his father gave these things to him. The other children were impressed, and even some of the adults were too. One of the children said, “Hey, I bet that's why they named you Present, cause you are always giving things to people.” Consequently, Present seemed like a very nice boy, for someone who had been left back.

Sometimes, he would laugh very hard and loud, startling those close by, when the little boy came near. Looks of puzzlement would appear momentarily, but Present would grab their attention with a story of what he had done for others, and they would forget the quick and loud voice he used. In these moments, those listening would turn toward Present to hide from how this tried to isolate the little boy, Place. He smiled a big smile, because his father had so much and they wanted to know him.

This was not lost on the little boy, Place. He had seen this before, in other rooms when he entered, but he never let it stop him from trying to be a friend.

At times, when Present was not around, others were more relaxed with Place then, he understood and was glad for these bits.

In uncharacteristic moments, Present was kind to Place, even eating with him in the cafeteria, but the kindness wouldn't last. Soon Present would make himself known all over again, and turn on Place. He would mock him, laughing loudly once again, calling him names, like, “Hey, Post! What's with the shirt? How long have you been wearing the same one? Don't you have one that fits?”

He was hurt by the embarrassing attention, but said nothing unkind back. He only replied, “It's an OK shirt, it's mine” and continued quietly, “and I like it.” You see, Place's shirt was too short on him, and it had a few holes in it, but he had been wearing it often lately. It was just something he had decided to do.

His family simply lived the same way, taking care of those who needed to feel they had a place to belong, taking the time so they could be sure. This young boy, Place had recently lost his grandfather, who was named Time. He had spent sooo much Time with his grandfather, who was a different sort of man, friendly and unique, yet was quiet himself, especially since he had come back from the war. Time had served saving his fellows from wounds and shrapnel caused by the enemy, and some ran out of time. He was a medic, a friend, and a man, who came home shell-shocked and wounded himself, internally.

One day, as Place sat alongside his grandfather, Time, sighed a long heavy sigh, and opened up to him, saying, “You know, what the greatest wound for me is, after coming back from fighting such a cold heartless, war,...?” Place sat quiet, just to listen and be there. “It's the way people still treat each other, with such distance and posturing, not really opening who they are, to others. Never really letting the bumps and bruises be seen. We learned we all have em, over there, and we all see them in everyone over here. The young, well, many of them, just don't know that. They don't seem to know it could be such a better world, if we all were real, even with our own stuff.”

Place looked in his grandfather's eyes with camaraderie and understanding, still and quiet. His grandfather looked back, seeing his grandson just living in his place, and smiled.

“You still have that shirt I brought you back, huh, Place? It's getting pretty beat up.”

“It was beat up when you gave it to me, grandpa, but I like it, cause it's from you.”

Shortly after that Place in Time, his grandfather ran out. The young boy held his Place, for a while, and then moved into the rest of his life.

Some knew about Place's story, those who cared to get to know him and were willing to see beyond his shirt and unfamiliar ways, and others never knew, never cared to know. They continued laughing too loud for what was real, and stayed too sad to be free. Place, he would always hold his own, as he welcomed others in to know him, living patiently with others so he could know them.

He never looked down on anyone, just looked them square in the eye, always hoping what was real.

In Romans, chapter 14:1-19, it shares how God has made us as different individuals. It addresses the importance of seeing others as starting in life from a different Place, needing different Time to grow in what the Lord has for each. It reminds us not to judge the progress, choices, or styles of others, as they may be Places given by God for their life, or at least choices they stand or fall in before God. God is judge not us! Besides the fact we are all human, and have commonality, in that we breath, drink, eat and interact, to seek healthy choices for all of these is up to the individual. However, if unhealthy choices are made openly in front of others, this can wound others directly in connection or stimulate them to attempt to live the same way. Romans affirms this here: this is not being kind to our society.

Physics says, everything is in a state of decay, so it is important we act as a catalysts to stimulate healthy interaction, by the way we live and interact. Eventually, 'what goes around comes around' will kick in, so let's send around a good life, believing the best for others, taking the time to listen to and come to know someone else. Uhg,... let's catch that, not so others see what we are, or have done, so they'll know us, like Present in the story.

Instead, one can take Time in the Place someone else is living, even emotionally. Spending the Time we can make this Place a little bit better, for someone every day. Romans 14:19 states this clearly, “Therefore, let's keep on pursuing those things that bring peace and that lead to building up one another.”