I had a group of boys and we were in line to attend the Timberwolves basketball game. The boys were typically excited, looking forward to having fun. After we showed our tickets we went through the security line. My group was chosen to divert through the line that merited an extra careful examination of our persons. Surprise, surprise… As we went through the scanner a couple of us caused it to beep, so we had to go back through and empty our pockets. I had forgotten an extra key in my pants pocket so I had to go through twice. No big deal. The boy in front of me was wearing a big winter coat and was asked to go back through three times, each time finding something in his pockets to remove. We all waited patiently. The third time the machine beeped he reached into his pocket and said oops… and pulled out a big, wicked looking knife.
We all looked on with shock, but the security guard simply said casually… “You can’t come in here with that son.” He was given the choice to surrender the knife or leave the premises. He didn’t want to surrender it because it belonged to his father who had recently passed away. I ended up walking with him all the way back to the parking garage and leaving the knife in the van so he could go to the game with us. I shook my head… this wasn’t my first rodeo. This had happened to me a few times. I was frustrated and embarrassed. When you are going with me you know not to bring any sort of contraband like drugs, vape pens or weapons. I didn’t say anything. I was too worked up.
On the way home we had a chance to talk. “Dude, why in the world are you carrying around a knife like that?” He explained that a boy had threatened to kill him at school and he started carrying the knife with him for protection. Now think about that for a moment. This boy is a senior at his school, a school for kids who have exhibited emotional and anger issues, and had been doing well there the past couple of years. Coincidentally the time that he has been with us on the basketball team. He experiences an unprovoked attack and fears for his life. What goes through a kid’s head? What crazy, jumbled emotions cascade through his thoughts? He doesn’t tell a teacher, his mom or anyone; but takes it upon himself to protect himself by carrying a knife, fully expecting this other boy to try to carry out his threat. What child is prepared to deal with this kind of thing? No child should have to. Who knows what he was prepared to do if the other boy challenged him again. Not the typical sort of thing a school age child has to contend with on a routine day at school.
So we talked it out. The fear, the anger, the consequences of choice. We talked about an appropriate response… bringing the incident to the attention of someone at school, telling his mom, etc. I think what finally changed his way of thinking was when we discussed his dad, how proud he’d be of his success at school and what he would want him to do in this situation. We agreed that he would talk to someone at school the next day. When I dropped him off later that night he said, “Thanks Coach”, and went out into the night.
What began as an irritation and disappointment in my mind became a moment of clarity and release for this teenager, and avoided a tragic, life changing incident. A reminder that someone cares, that he is not alone. The grace of God be with him and countless kids like him experiencing similar situations today at school, home and their communities. The Lord give us adults grace to pay attention to what is happening in the lives of young people in our homes, communities and institutions.
Christ's Children Ministries 