How to Think

Last night while making dinner at Brian's place there was a knock on the door - it was his 15 year old neighbor "Germ" (which I think is a terrible nickname for a teen- but the guys have assured me that it is fine, and he's cool with it. I am still uncomfortable with it, but I don't get a vote).

Germ- "sup."
Me- "hi"
Germ- (avoids eye contact and scans the room for someone more familiar and male).

Enter Brian, the one he came to see. At this point I'm not entirely sure he remembers (or cares) that I am in the room, (after all, I am just a strange girl) but they have a good one on one chat about computers, birthdays, and etc. while I chop and simmer.

I could no longer mind my own business when I over heard the strangest thing come out the teen's mouth.

"My birthday is the day that I'm taking your soul"

me- "what did you say?"
Germ-"I'm going to take your soul. It's morbid humor."
me-"I don't think it's funny. What do you mean by that? Do other people think that's funny?"
Germ-"It doesn't matter, I think it is, and they are entitled to their own opinions."
me-"so if people don't think that kind of humor is funny, and you keep using it, aren't you worried about losing friends or offending them?"
Germ- "no. I don't care."

Which springboards about a half hour long conversation between Brian and Germ about what makes one thing right and one thing wrong, evil vs. good, what makes one's opinion is better than another, life and death, and ultimately God and the Devil.

I'm writing about this little scenario because although I was responsible for making a big deal out of a stupid "kid comment", listening to the way Brian asked Germ to "think" before he formed opinions, and training him to be "open" to another side other than his own was fascinating.

Although my radar went up when he said that comment that told me he didn't know Jesus, and I wanted to challenge that ignorance, Brian thankfully stepped in and used it to first address the real issue- Germ's insistence on being right and never testing his or anyone else's "thoughts." Where I got all emotional over the idea of what he meant by the "morbid joke," Brian used it as an open door for a deeper thought process full of logic and teachable thought.

I eventually shut up and continued chopping, and by the time dinner was served, there was Germ, who'd started out spouting "facts" he'd read "places" bouncing from room to room like a caged lion; sitting calmly, curled up on the couch, engaged in a man to man conversation about how to truly think and discover truth with Brian pushing him to be challenged in his perspectives.

I announced that the stuffed peppers were ready and placed them on the table, fully expecting Germ to stay and continue in their conversation while we ate.

Germ-"oooh 3..."
me- "one for me, and 2 for my man."

Germ's eyes got big and marveled at the food and not so subtlety hinted he wanted to stay and partake.

"Now go on and think about this more at home and beat it." Brian said. "It's date night."

After reading all about the differences between man and women lately and the "helper" vs. provider roles and the logical vs. emotional.... I marveled at the way it worked like a well-oiled machine that night. Brian had the chance to show a young man how to think like an adult by using logic, and I had the chance to use my heightened emotions to start a conversation, and then channel my angst into preparing a pretty decent home-cooked meal while observing in the background.

Maybe God knew what He was doing with all those differences after all huh?

Stop grumbling girls. I have the recipe if you want to try it.