During the last week or so these three things have come back to my thinking. Why? Downstairs from where I live is a very energetic young boy. He is in his first year of school and facing what most folks would consider normal struggles. He is full of very good questions and loves to play. A week or so ago, he asked if we could play. I agreed and he volunteered to play hide-n-seek. Well, I laughed so hard! That game was a “no-no” and most certainly a BIG “don’t” at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Actually, I don’t remember the exact reason given by Jane Whaley or whoever issued the edict, but it could have been – the game promotes hiding sin! Can you understand why after laughing – I said, “Sure you hide and I will count!” His hiding skills had not been developed. So, after counting and not seeing him right away- I said loudly- “Hey, where are you?” He said, “Over here.” It was more laughing for me. We played for just a short time. We found out that since we could not leave the fenced area, that there were not many hiding spots and not much challenge. But, just the thought of playing was a big laughable moment!

      Same young boy, a few days later was calling my name in front of my living room window. I heard a popping sound and had a good idea what was going on. So, I went downstairs and low and behold, he had a box of “snap pops”. These are little twists of papers with some rocks and powder inside. Throwing them on the ground makes them pop!  He was trying out different surfaces to see if he could make the snap make the popping sound. He discovered he could throw them against my shoes or shirt and many times they would pop! He laughed and it was so evident he was enjoying himself. Soon he offered me a few to try. I explained to him that these were around when I was much younger. He didn’t care. He just was glad to have a toy that made noise. Yes, I laughed as I remembered that this would not even be considered at WOFF. If you had to ask on this one;  you would soon learn that fireworks and anything similar were “of the devil” and “dangerous”. So, of course I helped him finish his box of pops. Both of us were laughing and being LOUD!  

     Today, same scenario- young boy calling my name at my front window. This time the popping was louder, but the giggling was just as evident. I went to my window and this time he had a BIG WOFF NO-NO! He had a REAL CAP GUN! A genuine, imitation cheap, metal and plastic six shot revolver!  This one looked just like the one I had when I was four or five! Hey, I knew how they worked! In a few minutes, I went down to investigate this new toy cap gun. Sure enough, it looked just like the one I had, but unfortunately the quality was not as good. The rolled red caps did not advance like the guns of old. So, you had to advance them manually. Yes, that took away from the speed of pops, but the happiness and excitement was still there for the young boy. Well, we laughed and had a big time. He became really excited when I showed him how to make the rolled caps pop with a rock! He loved being startled by the sound and spark! We laughed and hooted so loud that his sister had to call out the window to quiet us down. What a simple pleasure! These were the genuine cheap rolled caps, which sold 1000 for a dollar! I think it will be load around here tomorrow!  Making noise is so important to a young boy. This same fellow enjoyed learning how to blow grass and sound like a duck! He is still learning on that one. This may be a loud summer around here!

    For all you WOFF members or ex-WOFF members; was I wrong to not put the WOFF don’t list on this young boy? Was I wrong for not taking his poppers and cap gun away? Will he grow up using guns and committing crimes? I didn’t so why should I expect that he would? His mother gave him these toys and I was not going to rain on his parade. We enjoyed the toys and laughed. At one point, he hugged me – totally unprompted. Now, children can’t be left totally alone and to their own devices. But, WOFF “don’ts” don’t belong here. More importantly, the control used to instill religious “don’ts” stifles and kills the joys of a “normal” childhood. Yes, regretfully, I am just now seeing these things. Thank God, my parents gave me a cap gun… see below.

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      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) This is post number 83.