My High School Secret!

This year of 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of my graduation from high school.   The Walter M. Williams class of 1971 gathered for a reunion in August.   It was a time of hugs, laughter, and memories from high school years.    I have a secret from my high school days that I have been keeping, and I want to share it through this medium for myself, my family, and my classmates and it is this:  much of my high school days were difficult.  

 I did not apply myself scholastically very much in high school.   I could blame that fact on my teachers or the fact that I worked a part time job, but that was not the full reason.   I just did not try that hard and my grades showed it.   My grades in college and graduate school were much better that they were in high school.   The main reason why my grades were not very good was because of this secret.

 It was not my teachers or my classmates fault that my high school experience was difficult.   It was difficult for them for other reasons.   We were growing up and learning to discover who we were and who we wanted to be.   We were breaking free from our parents, and developing our own sense of autonomy.   We were also maneuvering issues like civil rights and school integration.   Have you ever seen the movie "Remember the Titans"?    That will give you some idea about what my high school classmates and I dealt with (black and white) as my high school was the first predominately white high school in the south with a black football coach, Jerome Evans.     While I was immersed in those challenges, my secret made my high school experience even more difficult. 

What was my secret that few knew and that I did not talk about?    The secret was that my father was an alcoholic and that impacted so much of my world.   Alcoholism led to my Dad losing a good job... a marital  separation... and a marital divorce.     Since my Dad did not pay child support,   I worked part time after school to help provide money instead of participating in high school clubs and athletic teams. Eventually, my Mom re-married and I did not adjust very well to having to a step-parent in my life.    I wish I had reached out to my classmates and to my teachers to share this and get support, but I did not know how at the time.   I share this not for your pity or sympathy, but so you might understand me and learn.  

In the Fall 1970, I discovered some good news that had been a secret to me:  that Jesus Christ loved me and gave His life that I might be whole and be holy.     While humans can let you down,   he has never let me down.  As I discovered the grace of God in Christ, a change begin to happen in me that most of my high school classmates never saw.   As I discovered the love and forgiveness in Christ,  I also began a journey on how to love and forgive my father and to love myself.  

 To any of my high school classmates reading this:   I wish I had had a better high school experience and I am sorry I that I could not and or would not share my secret with some of you.  I just did not know how.     Though you might not have changed my circumstance, your care and compassion would have changed my perspective.

 To any of you that work with children in school, church, and athletic teams:    let me encourage you to pay attention to those kids who simply need encouragement and a listening ear about something unrelated to reading, math, or the team.   Most of us never really know what someone in our office, our class, or  our neighborhood is  dealing with.   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            O God, there are so many people hurting around  me that I do not know about.  Give me your Spirit to reach out to them and let them know of my care and your care;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Have You Seen Charlie?

 

“Mister, have you seen my dog?”, the little boy asked me as I walked in the church yard to my car  a few months ago.   While I do not know the boy’s name, we had had several brief conversations in the past.   When I told him that I  did  not think I had seen the dog, I exclaimed,  “Tell me more about your dog”.    “Well, he is black and white, and he answers to the name of Charlie”, he said.  I assured him as we ended our conversation that I would be looking out and if I saw Charlie I would certainly let him know.   While Charlie might not mean much to you, he matters to that little boy.   Boys love their dogs, and dogs love their little boys.

We read in Luke 15 about a time that a man had a lost sheep.   Like that little boy wanted to find a dog named Charlie, so this man wanted to find this sheep.   It made no difference that this shepherd had 99 other sheep back in the fold.  That missing lost sheep was important to that man just like Charlie was important to that little boy.  Can’t you see that man peering across the countryside to see if he saw that sheep?   Can’t you hear that man stopping the people  he met along the road to see if they had seen that sheep and telling them about any special markings on that sheep?

Have you seen Charlie?   He matters to that little boy.     And you know what?   You matter to someone too.   Though on your worst days you might not believe it, everyday you are a valuable treasure to God.  Why, you are made in His image even though there have been times when you have not acted like it.   Have you wandered away from God?   Though there might be times you wonder where God is, He is not far away.   God has not gone anywhere.  Like a wandering sheep, perhaps your attention has been distracted as you thought there might be greener pastures out there.   God is as close as the next prayer for all the Charlies and the Charlenes out there.    And  you know what?   You will find Him saying, “Welcome home, my child.”  Have a joy-filled week.  --  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER:     O God,   I confess that there have been times I have wandered away from your way.  Thank you, God, for the fact that I matter to you and you are never far away;  through the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, I pray.   Amen. 

Putting in My Ten Cents!

 

 

If you travel to the beach in the Wilmington area, you probably will see the USS North Carolina along the highway just outside of town.   When I was in the first grade, the campaign began to try to bring the USS North Carolina back to the Tar Heel state instead of selling it for scrap metal.   As I recall, the late Hugh Morton was one of the leaders in the fund raising campaign.  I am certain that there were persons and companies that gave large sums of money to bring the USS North Carolina home.  However, I am also certain that there were  persons that gave small sums of money because  I was one of those persons.  If my memory is correct, I gave a grand total of ten cents to the USS North Carolina fund-raising campaign by collecting discarded soft drink bottles along the roadside and getting money for the bottles  at the store. 

            Deuteronomy 16: 17 says, “Every one shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given you.”   Some can give large gifts of money, and others give small gifts of money.  What I know is if all of us will simply give as we are able, then God can take it and use it for His honor and his glory.       Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            O God, we give thanks that the Lord Jesus gave the greatest gift he could give for our salvation- His very life.   Stir in our hearts that we might always give as we are able to the work of your Kingdom;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.