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Baring Witness

by Alan R. Wolcott

Harold and Travis have been sitting on the bench outside the school entrance waiting for a ride home, shooting the breeze.

Travis:

I heard you got called in by old man Statutes today, Harry. Something about ‘flashing?’

Harold:

Flashing? I didn’t have no camera. All I did was take off my shirt...

Travis:

Were you trying to show somebody that funny looking mole, again?

Harold:

Nah. Besides I got that fixed. It was gym and we were picking teams for basketball. We were skins, but coach sure got excited when I took my shirt off. He told me to put it back on. When I told him I was a “skin” he just got mad. Then he told me I had to change teams. I didn’t think that was fair—6 on 4, you know. Then he sent me to the office.

Travis:

Hunh? That doesn’t seem very fair.

Harold:

Well, the skins did have Joe, he’s as good as two of me.

Travis:

No, no, no. I mean it wasn’t fair to send you down to Statutes just for that.

Harold:

Oh, that. Statutes said it had something to do with my new tattoo.

Travis:

You’ve got a tattoo?

Harold:

Yeah.

Travis:

When did you get it?

Harold:

Saturday morning. I figured it was the least I could do after what Pastor Kidder said at youth group. Want to see it?

Travis:

Sure.

Harold begins to pull up his shirt. Just then Amanda comes by.

Amanda:

What in the world do you think you guys are doing!

Travis:

Oh, hi, Mandy.

Harold:

Hi, Mandy. I’m showing Travis my new tattoo. Want to see it?

Amanda:

Sure (very dubiously).

Harold continues. As his shirt comes up it reveals the words “Jesus saves” painted on his belly.

Amanda:

(Trying to stifle a snicker) What on earth? Why did you do that, Harold?

Travis:

He told me it had something to do with what Pastor Kidder said at youth group. Isn’t that right, Harry?

Harold:

Right! Didn’t he tell us that we should be bolder Christians, and “bare witness” even in public? I figured there was no better way than this little tattoo (pats his belly).

Amanda:

Well, maybe for beach evangelism. But I think he had something else in mind.

Harold:

You do? I paid good money for this, so it’d better work.

Travis:

I’ll bet you did...

Amanda:

Easy, Laser brain. I seem to recall you carrying around a goose call a lot last year, and making some pretty weird sounds.

Travis:

Never mind.

Amanda:

Any way, Harold, I think Pastor Kidder meant something else. He meant that we should be willing and able to tell about our relationship with Jesus in public—“bearing witness” by what we say.

Harold:

Like on Judge Judy? I love that show. Yesterday, this lady had her Chihuahua...

Amanda:

(Hurriedly interrupting) Not exactly. It means to talk about what Jesus means to you, how he saved you.

Travis:

For me it means talking about going to Camp a couple summers ago.

Harold:

Jesus was at Camp? Is that why you were honking?

Travis:

(Laughing) Yes, but not quite what you think. I have heard about him from the time I was a little guy. My parents had me in church from before my legs could reach from the pew to the floor. In fact, I think my buns have worn a groove in the spot where we usually sit!

Amanda:

Next you’ll be saying it’s splinters that make you wiggle so much.

Travis:

Funny, Mandy! Anyway the speaker told us that being born and raised in a Christian home doesn’t make us a Christian anymore than being born and raised on a farm makes you a chicken or being born and raised by a baker makes you a doughnut.

Harold:

That’s what Judge Judy told the lady with the Chihuahua. Just because the neighbor called it “a miserable rodent” after it dug up his daisies doesn’t mean he hurt its feelings and deserves to be sued for libel.

Travis:

I...I guess so. Anyway, the speaker said that we had to personally put our faith, our trust in Jesus. God doesn’t have spiritual grandchildren, so I needed to trust in Jesus for myself. After one of the chapel services that’s what I did.

Amanda:

Did you pray?

Travis:

Yes. The speaker said that’s the way to tell God what you want to do.

Amanda:

Travis, that’s an excellent example of what Pastor Kidder meant by “bearing witness.”

Harold:

You didn’t tell me you had a tattoo, too?

Travis slyly begins tugging at his shirt...

Amanda:

Keep your shirt on. Isn’t there a statute about public indecency?

Harold:

Nah, he said we couldn’t say “Jesus saves” at school. (Points to his tattoo) But I still don’t get why you were doing all that honking, Travis.

Amanda:

(Confused) What?

Travis:

It’s a flashback, Mandy. I’d tell you, but “Flash” and I gotta go. Our ride’s finally here. (Puts his arm around Harry as they leave and asks...) Harry, have you ever seen the bumper sticker “Honk, if you love Jesus”?

Amanda:

(Calling after them) Honk! Honk!