Tony My Teacher
I am a storyteller. I have been telling stories most of my life. Today, I make my living by telling stories. But when I was a child, my storytelling passion got me into a lot of trouble. My stories were often truths that got stretched into exaggerated tales. I can remember one story that got me grounded for several weeks. As I recall, I was about ten years old. There was a man in our village who was mentally slow. He walked around town keeping to himself and talking to himself. Sadly, kids often made fun of him which would set him into a verbal rant. I was taught better than that and stayed away from those kinds of kids and from this man who I knew as Tony. My mom always warned me to never upset Tony. So I complied—until one sunny Saturday morning. To this day I have no idea was to why I said what I said, but I said it. When kids made fun of Tony, they would shout out, “Tony baloney!” Some kids would run, while others would continue to taunt. I always felt bad for Tony and I always kept my distance. If Tony was walking on one side of the street, I would walk on the other. It was a safety precaution. Mom drilled it into me that Tony was born with a disability that caused him to be unstable and you never knew when he might go after someone and hurt them.
Even though I wasn’t raised in a Christian home, I was given a religious upbringing with a strong moral and ethical foundation. But kids will be kids—especially when the restraining power of the Holy Spirit is not alive within them. So there I was, turning the corner of Stanley and Murray Street, and at the same time Tony was walking on the other side of the street directly across from me. He was ranting about something as was often his style. For some unknown reason I shouted out rather timidly, “Tony Baloney.” That did it! My mocking comment set Tony off in a tirade. He started yelling at me and gesturing all sorts of threats. I ran and Tony pursued! I never ran so fast in my life. I took a sharp left behind a yellow house and then darted back through a lady’s garden and finally behind a garage, through a narrow space where there was, oddly, grapes growing under these large leaves. I then ran as fast as I could to my best friend Tom’s house, where I saw him, Kevin, and John playing with Tonka trucks under a pine tree. As soon as I saw them, I knew I would be safe as I found strength in numbers—even though we were only ten years old!
This is where the story really begins. “Help!” I yelled out at a distance. As I ran to the safety of my friends my adrenaline-fed, exaggerated story soared. Out of breath I gasped how Tony was chasing me with a knife and was trying to kill me. “We’ve got to stick together,” I pleaded. Kevin, the more stable of my friends, tried to calm me down and quickly went inside to get his father. Mr. Winenans came out and assured us that he would take care of the situation and that we would be protected under the pine tree.
Just when all looked fine, all danger dispelled, and my near-death experience with Tony ended, Mrs. Chichester came out and said that my mother called and wanted me home immediately! Uh oh…something doesn’t sound right. What could it be? My mom never calls me home like this, especially on a Saturday morning. But I could hear a serious tone in Mrs. Chichester’s voice and I ran home through the back yards. When I got there, I knew that I was in big trouble! Oh no! Tony was in my house!!! He was yelling and shouting out all kinds of “real” threats. My mom was trying to calm him down and what would happen next I would never forget. With belt in hand, my mom started to give me a “licking!” Tony watched with satisfaction and when the spanking was over, mom assured him that this would never happen again, and Tony calmly left. What a lesson! Over fifty years later that scene is still stamped in the forefront of my memories. I never made fun of anyone with a handicap again. In fact, God has given me a unique love for the handicapped. Not only did I get a degree in working with the mentally and physically disabled but every time I see someone with a disability, I have a great sense of empathy.
I only wish I could have seen Tony in the way I see him now. He was bullied and mocked most of his life, through no fault of his own. Tony needed what everyone needs—affirmation, love, and grace. No one in our village seemed to understand how to communicate with Tony. Thus, he was left in isolation without protection. I wonder what Tony’s life could have been like if others would have defended and loved him?
In Proverbs chapter one, Solomon teaches his son teaches to stay away from those who take advantage of the weak and innocent. This warning is one of the 12 wisdom lessons that every child needs to learn. Children who mock others without restraint are heading for a life of loss and sorrow. God’s laws come with inevitable consequences and rewards. Whatever a man sows he will also reap. As I bring these thoughts to a close, I am reminded of Proverbs chapter 24. When considering those less fortunate than ourselves, God challenges us to, “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” It is our responsibility as children of God to defend and protect the innocent and weak, from the time they are in their mother’s womb until they go to be with their heavenly Father in heaven.
Thank you Lord for the Tony’s of this world! There is so much we can learn from them. May we fulfill our role as guardians and grace givers to those who have been given much less on this earth but have waiting for them an abundant inheritance in heaven.
Recommendations for the theme of empathy, guardians, and grace:
Children ages 2-6 – Trusty Tries to Fly — Trusty watches as Pixie swirls and twirls around in the air. He is sure that if he tries hard enough, he can fly too! And when he sees Bubbles whizzing by with a big gust of wind, Trusty is convinced that he can sail, too! But he can't. He's just not made the same way. He feels stuck. But then, on a cold winter night, Trusty understands why God made him just the way he is.
Children ages 6-9 – Nobody Loves Me
Children ages 9-12 – Frozen Fire audio and book
Ages 12 and up – Ishmael and The Lamplighter
