Imagining

Fall is my favorite time of the year. The foliage that lines the shores of the lake we live on takes on the vibrant hues of oranges, reds, yellows and browns. In the crisp mornings the vapors rise from the surface of the lake as urethral specters catching the rays of the sun and adding its colors to the pastoral scene. The 4th Sunday in October was rapidly approaching and I realized that the Indianapolis Colts had a home game and I would have to forgo the use of my tickets. So I informed my daughter and mentioned that my two grandchildren would use them. Herein lie a story and a valuable lesson.

My grandson Austin, who is 5 years old, is the consument Colts fan. He is incessantly asking if there are “kids” tickets available for the games. Some time ago we told Austin that he could only go when there were “kids” tickets available and that usually coincided with the times I would not be using mine. So when Austin discovered tickets were available, to say he was excited would be a gross understatement. The morning of the game, he has stealthy stole into my son-in-law and daughters bedroom and was asleep on the floor so as to make sure he didn’t get left behind. According to my daughter, early in the morning he awoke and sat up, clapped his hands shouted “Yea, it’s the Colts day” and promptly laid back down and fell fast asleep. He must have been having a very vivid dream.

So off to the game they went. Austin was dressed for the game, complete with white football pants, a blue Colts jersey, his tennis shoes and his trusty football helmet. He felt as though he could have stepped onto the field, and at several times volunteered to do so, to help his beloved Colts. (Austin is all a shade over 3 feet tall and a whopping 35 lbs.) As the game progressed, Austin asked for a new Colts jersey. My son-in-law, Brad, purchased the one of his choice, Edgerin James, the Colts 2nd year running back sensation. Austin already possessed jerseys of some of the other players. It happened to be a game when the Colts rose to the challenge and triumphed in the last few minutes over the Patriots (sorry Patriot fans). Edgerin James had an exceptional game and was instrumental in the victory. As Austin left the game he was adorned with his new Edgerin James jersey along with the other accouterments of his uniform. He rode on his father’s shoulders as they wove their way through the crowd and out the exits. Along the way, several other Colts fans would spot Austin, pat him on the back and say “way to go today Edgerin”. After this happened numerous times, Austin bent over and whispered into his fathers ear “Dad, they think I’m Edgerin James!!” Austin was both embarrassed and elated simultaneously at all of the recognition. He bubbled with enthusiasm all the way to the car. Upon leaving the parking lot, Austin, still overcome with excitement, kept saying “Mom, Dad, they really thought I was Edgerin James”. My daughter, Dodi, and Brad could barely contain themselves. Dodi turned to Austin and gently asked, “Austin, do you think you look like Edgerin James?” Austin shouted, “I must!” Dodi again gently asked, “Austin, what does Edgerin James look like?” Austin pondered the question for a moment and quietly said “I must look like him,” silence ensued, “but his skin is just a little browner than mine”. (Austin is blond with blue eyes). Upon which Dodi showed Austin a picture of Edgerin complete with dreadlocks. Austin looked at it and said, “Well, they thought I did” and beamed a big smile.

Where did the innocence go? How I long for the days of imagination when we could all be our heroes, languish in their triumphs and suffer through their defeats. I believe that the ability to imagine and envision resides deep with in each one of us. As we mature we envelop those abilities inside layers of experiences, which lead to biases and prejudice.

In a time when we listen to the rhetoric of the politicians, witness the sad commentary of our society with racial profiling, watch as the passion of hate fans the winds of tension in the middle east and listen with horror as the atrocities are still recounted in Serbia, I wonder where the innocence has gone. But we all know don’t we? It occurs to me that Austin hasn’t learned many prejudices yet. Maybe he won’t, but more than likely he will as he matures in our society.

If we could learn to peel off layers built up over the years maybe hate and prejudice would slowly melt away and we would see people for who they truly are and what they accomplish.

• Promote the qualities of people you know for who they are and what they stand for. Not, for the color of their skin, religious beliefs or ethnic background.
• Spend a couple of hours with a 2 year old and rediscover the magic that surrounds you.
• Be willing to dream.
• Acts 15:9