This afternoon, I was at the Children’s Drama rehearsals to teach the children some dance steps. Over in Jireh Hall, a g group of youth was busy choreographing a fighting “dance” for one of the scenes. I watched with interest how they incorporated in body flips, turnings, jumping, rolling, punching and kicking to make the fight looked real. The war music added intensity to the atmosphere.
Having watched all the fighting, my mind couldn’t helped but to think back of the good old days when we, the youth (mostly guys) fought whenever we have stayovers. May it be at church’s camps, youth camps, cell retreats, prayer retreats, pastors’ house or just an overnight stay, we would never fail to arrange for our “fights’ in the room. From pillow fights to WWE wrestling, we will not call it a day if no one fights till there’s not a single ounce of energy left in us. .
Thinking back, I don’t know what’s so special about it but it seemed that everyone was enjoying it and demanded to have more of it the subsequent night. I think this could be one the peculiar ways the guys showed their affection of brotherly love to one another. Haha. We really had a lot of fun and many friendships were bonded through our so called “fights.”
However, it was not so for one incident between me another good friend of mine.
We were at a retreat some time back and during one of the free afternoons, we decided to initiate our wrestling matches. Everything was fine and we had good time laughing our hearts out seeing how one defeated another with their funny moves and styles.
Then it was our turn. We started off like everyone else and it went quite fine. But I really have no idea how suddenly the punches and kicks turned real and we ended up fighting violently. The cheering and laughing died down. The other youth were stunned and dumbfounded. I think both of us were also caught by surprise. Fortunately, we managed to stop without anyone having to call for the ambulance.
The fight ended. And so was our friendship. Since then, our friendship drifted apart and and we were reduced to total strangers. I wished I was dreaming, but reality kept rearing its ugly head. I regret serving him that punch so hard. I regret having to slap him so hard. It must have hurt him more than just physically. That was one of the things that I have done in my entire life which I truly regret.
Nothing much can be done now. However, it served as a call for me to be more vigilant and think twice if the youths ever thought of organizing any so called fights.
I am sorry, friend.
