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.