I have been attempting to donate plasma at different points during the past couple of months and this is what happened there about a month ago. I was sitting in the bed with the book, "Christianish," by Mark Steele in my lap. I had turned it over to make sure that no one could see the title, just in case I flipped out or got mean while being stuck with a needle. As I was sitting there, needle in my arm, book in my lap, and trying to watch the recap on ESPN of the Lakers winning the NBA Finals, they brought a guy over to the bed next to mine. Here's a synopsis of what happened:
Josh: What book are you reading?
Jenna: It's called, "Christianish"... it's one I've already read, but this guy is a really funny writer and I figured it would help the time pass quickly while I waited here.
Josh: Can I see it?
Jenna (passing it over to him): Sure!
Josh (taking the time to read the back of the book): Is this about holiness or something?
Jenna: It's more about the things the writer has been through and how he's lived out his faith during those times.
Josh started thumbing through the book, so I figured he was actually interested in what it was about. I told him, "Here, you should read this chapter because it's really funny." I usually hate it when people ask me to read something that's good or funny in front of them, but I felt confident that he really would think it was hilarious.
I turned it to the chapter that is about his sons' reactions to pain in life. He wrote about how his sons, Jackson and Charlie, got into trouble one night for lying about playing with their toys when they should have been in bed an hour before. He told them they were going to get spankings and witnessed a major difference in their reactions. Jackson became very upset and was going to do anything to avoid getting spanked. Some quotes of his while he was about to get spanked were:
"I MUST HAVE A GLASS OF WATER FIRST! I'M THIIIIIRSTY!"
"NOW I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!"
"YOU CAN'T SPANK ME BECAUSE I'LL PEE! I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM FIRST!"
and my personal favorite... "YOU'LL WHACK THE PEE OUT OF ME!"
The kid became so upset about getting spanked that he ended up vomiting because of his anxiety. Once it was over, though, he was fine. He felt bad about breaking his parents' rules and knew that the spanking was a consequence from that.
Charlie, on the other hand, is quite charming and covers up how he feels about getting spanked. My favorite part is the conversation that occurs between his mom and him.
Charlie: I'm not gonna do anyfing Jackson is doing when I go get MY spanking.
Kaysie: You're not, huh?
Charlie: Nope, I'm gonna walk wight in and jus' get spanked.
Kaysie: That's a good idea, Charlie.
Charlie: I do not wike it when Daddy spanks me.
Kaysie: I'll bet you don't.
Charlie: I wike it when you spank me.
Kaysie (nonchalantly): Oh really? Why?
Charlie: Because when Daddy spanks me, it hurts- but when you spank me, it does not...
I pwobably should not have told you dat.
Kaysie: Tell you what, son. From now on we'll let Daddy do all your spankings.
Charlie (sighing): Yep. I definitewy should not have told you dat.
Josh was laughing out loud at certain points during the chapter, so I knew he was enjoying it. He even read one part to a nurse who was walking by because he thought it was so funny. When he was finished with the chapter, he handed it back to me and said something along the lines of, "It's true. There are so many Christians who cover up what they're going through and they don't let their real feelings show." I told him that I agreed because there have been a lot of times in my life when I've pretended that everything was all right, instead of allowing myself to be honest about how I feel. I didn't get to say much more to him because I was finished with my donation, but I was glad that we had talked to each other and that I got to share that book with him.
I guess the moral of the story is that people who aren't Christians are more likely to listen to a Jackson than a Charlie because the Jackson's of the world are willing to be honest about their feelings toward difficult situations.
