Friday, April 29, 2016

Can't Believe You're Mine

Blink my eyes and two years have passed since this.  In the same spirit, for posterity, I'm going to break my Team Tinsley Blog rule and give myself a pass.  Here is the ultra personal letter to Boy #2 for his Confirmation Retreat weekend.
----------

-->
April 19, 2016

Your journey to what will be now, your Confirmation Retreat, started on February 15,2005.  You were just a couple of months past your first birthday, a time I’m pretty certain you do not remember.  I know this because I documented most of the early years of Team Tinsley on our eponymous blog.  There was a TV show called Fear Factor that Ethan and I watched when he was really small.  We used to sit on that big brown recliner than you may remember, that sat near the fireplace, while you toddled around the front room (or were in a baby carrier.)  At any rate I’ve included the Fear Factor story with this letter if youwant to read it for a bit of context.

The reason I tell you that is this.  It was very important to me to expose both you and your brother to a faith base because of my fucked up background with religion (how much you want to  bet your letter is the only one that has an F bomb in it.)  I’ve talked about it a bit in your confirmation class, but let me expand on it so you understand in a deeper sense what I mean.

The brand of Christianity that was shoved down my throat as a kid I’ve since determined was flawed.  We’re talking Will’s God #3 as a sheriff x10 kind of shit.  This coupled with my black and white, borderline OCD personality traits caused me a lot of hurt that I didn’t always express when I was young.  I kept it inside.  But make no mistake I was afraid and often scared of religion.  Hell, I was scared of Will’s sheriff God #3 since that was the God that was sold to me, and his son Jesus wasn’t much better, because if you said fuck, like I did earlier in this letter, according to the people who were teaching me, I would go to hell.  And hell was a very real and scary place to those that were preaching to me.

It took me a very long time to get over this.  Even after I no longer personally believed it.  And make no mistake, I firmly believe this isn’t a good way to live your life regardless of what you ultimately believe.

Remember, this whole process is about you getting a faith foundation that sets you up for your own faith journey that you’ll be on the rest of your life.  That’s the beauty of Confirmation and AUMC.  It’s really is up to you.  I won’t lie.  I do want you to continue on with AUMC as a strong solid faith base, which I think will serve you well.  I think being part of the Youth program, is good.  Going to church and being a part of that community is good.  But at the end of the day all I really care about are a few things. 

I told your brother the same back in 2014.  And I’m going to tell you the same thing now.  What I want for you is this: I want you to be happy.  And. I want you to do as much good as you can do. 

The secret to doing this, which is simple in theory, but often hard to execute is to follow the golden rule.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  It really all boils down to that in my opinion regardless of what you ultimately believe.  If everyone just did that simple thing think about how much better the world would be.

You’re a good kid, Wyatt.  I can’t stress that enough.  I’m often amazed by your actions and how you act in different situations.  You are a very unique young man. 

Your Mom and I didn’t know if we’d ever have Ethan. I think you know those stories (if not, I’d be happy to share them with you although they may be uncomfortable to you at your current age.)  You though were much easier to have.  And quite unexpected.  All of which sort of has been etched on your personality.  Your Mom’s big thing with you was waiting to see you before you were named.  You were nearly Luke.  But when she saw you she knew you were a Wyatt and you’ve truly lived up to that unique name in character since you were a tiny baby. 

As for me --- You were voodoo to me.  You have to remember that I’m an only child of an only child.  I’ve never known what it was to have siblings.  You changed the game for me when you entered the and made me the Dad of boy(s). And I’ve always been so thankful for all you’ve taught and shown me about life.  I truly am a different person because of you directly.  Something you probably didn’t ever really take time to think about or know.

I’ve got off topic…let me get back to my point, which was this:  you are a good person.  And I have faith that you will also do good.

Pay close attention to that statement.  Mainly the ‘do’ part.  I didn’t say ‘be’ good.  Your human.  You will mess up and do things you end up regretting.  Things that your Mom and I may not agree with or like.  Things that upset us.  And that is ok.  It’s part of life and no matter what you do, you can never separate yourself from the love your Mom and I have for you.  Nothing can take that away.  Ever.  We will also be your biggest champions.  There to support you.  No matter how big or far you go.  We are and will also be your Mom and Dad.  I want you to never forget that.  As you become a teenager you’ll want to pull away from that. Which is fine.  All boys do it.  But please never forget that we are there for you and always have your best interest at heart even when you may not think that we do or understand. 

So as you stare down Confirmation (you are only a month away) as well as your final days at Heights before you make that big move to Jr. High let me tell you my wish for you. 

I want you to find your own way in this world and to do as much good as you can do, while being happy doing it.  To be the best Wyatt Carter Tinsley you can be. 

In the end I don’t give a shit if you are Methodist, Catholic, Jewish (you’d have to convert,) Baptist or Buddhist!  You should explore what you believe, ask questions, and listen to your heart while thinking things through in your head.  Help others if you can.  All the stuff we’ve talked about in Confirmation.  That’s why it Is so important to me. 

Make no mistake, how you feel about things is going to change as you grow, and experience different things in life.  Your thoughts and attitudes will change, which is ok.  And why it is so important for me that you know I’ll love you no matter what.  It’s an unconditional kind of love.  The same love you’ve been taught in Confirmation and your entire church life at AUMC that God has for you.  And that’s good.  Because in the end, and as cheesy as it may sound, the answer really is LOVE.  And for many people God and Jesus are the embodiment of that love.