Please, Boys, Don't Scream!

Human nature intrigues me, especially the different ways in which people can respond to the same thing.

A short while ago, our son-in-law and granddaughter, Boo, came for a visit. We took them to the Tennessee Aquarium in downtown Chattanooga. They currently have a good penguin display going on we thought she’d enjoy, and there is a big butterfly exhibit at the top of the new Marine building. She’s a little over four years old and is big on butterflies.

I’ve been with first-grade class field trips to the aquarium before, so I knew what to expect – attention darting from exhibit to exhibit with gasps of delight and awe, but with enthusiasm waning after about thirty minutes. But not Boo! She was enraptured with every display, full of curiosity, and willing to see it all.

There are several sites in the marine exhibit where a person (especially children) can enter into glassed-in portions that extend into the exhibit, or under the exhibit. She loved these, since they tend to give the impression of being in the water with the animals.

It was while she was in one of these, wowing at the clown fish and anemones, that she was joined by two slightly older boys. As soon as they were in the enclosure, they began hollering and horsing around. Viewing the exhibit wasn’t really on their agenda. In a kind but bold voice, Boo said, “Please, boys. Don’t scream. We’re in the middle of the sea.” There were two completely different responses to the same exhibit.

An event will someday take place here on this earth, and, again, there will be two completely different responses to it. A group of people will look upward in awe and great joy. Another will scream in terror, calling for the rocks and mountains to cover them. I want to be with the group that can say, “Please, boys. Don’t scream. It’s only my friend Jesus coming back for me.”

Won't you join me?

Have a great day.

Dr. G