“Stupid!” Yelled Tommy at Jackson. “You can’t believe we came from apes, God created us, the Bible says so and if you weren’t so dumb you would know it!” Jackson looked hurt and embarrassed as usual, and Tommy looked indignant, self righteous and annoyed as usual.
Tommy was one of the tallest kids in their class. His family was an upper middle class family like most of the families of the kids at his school.
Jackson on the other hand was slightly below average height. He was also one of the few minorities at the school and his family was poor.
Jackson had been bullied often by Tommy and many other kids at the school but the two boys had become friends lately. They mostly hung out after school and on weekends because Tommy didn’t like to be seen with Jackson at school.
The friendship started when Tommy was playing in the woods behind his family’s house and ran into Jackson. Jackson’s family lived not far from the same woods in public housing. Tommy’s family often complained about how close the public housing was. Tommy’s upper middle class church often preached on Sundays about the sinfulness of those living on the “nanny state”, referring to those in the public housing. The rich had much resentment towards the poor in town. They felt their taxes shouldn’t go towards those, they believed, must just somehow be “lazy” people. The poor white folks also complained that the minorities were taking all the jobs and lowering wages.
Tommy and Jackson’s school had fought many legal battles in local and state courts because they had for decades refused to yield to progressive laws. First it was a refusal to desegregate, then a refusal to teach evolution and then a refusal to cease mandated school prayer as well as many other issues.
Tommy was hyper and very athletic. Jackson was nerdy and not athletic at all. Tommy was a rough and rugged boy with daily growing aggression. Jackson had begun to develop strong attractions to some other guys and yet he didn't mind listening to Tommy talk about girls for hours.
Jackson hated himself for being different in every way. He admired Tommy even though he intellectually disagreed with much of Tommy’s beliefs.
Tommy and his family went to church usually two to three times a week. Jackson was not very religious and he wasn’t quite sure what he believed. However Jackson did believe in morality, kindness, empathy and compassion. He dreamed of someday working as an environmentalist or joining the Peace Corps. Tommy on the other hand wanted nothing more than to either get rich or join the military and get to kill “foreigners” with super cool weapons. Jackson believed that war and violence were wrong and developed an interest in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi.
Tommy’s dad kept a lot of pornography in the basement of their house and Tommy often would try to get Jackson to join him in going through it while Tommy’s parents weren’t home. Jackson was terrified because he was very afraid of Tommy’s father. Tommy’s father also had an office in the basement and didn’t usually clear the search history on his internet browser so Tommy would show Jackson the different porn sites his father visited.
One time Jackson asked, “Isn’t this against your religion?” Tommy replied “You are the one going to hell because you don’t believe in Jesus! I accepted Jesus so I AM going to heaven no matter what!” Jackson stood silent unable to process that response rationally.
Tommy and Jackson were at a river swimming. Tommy had seen some other men at a different time wade all the way across the river. So Tommy wanted to try it. Tommy did not realize the river was higher at this time because of recent rain storms. Regardless Tommy convinced Jackson that they could do it. Jackson was very afraid, but Tommy coaxed him with the usual demeaning language. Tommy’s taunts were usually somewhat persuasive with Jackson. Jackson did not want to be afraid or perceived as weak or different so when Tommy hurled derogatory vulgar words about Jackson’s sexual orientation and race it somehow simultaneously hurt and motivated Jackson.
About half way across the river the under current became too strong. They both drowned.
Immediately after they drowned they were both before Jesus. Jesus, referencing Luke 16:25, said "Tommy, in your lifetime you received your good things, while Jackson received bad things, but now he will be comforted here and you will be in agony.”
"Jesus, forgive him, for Tommy did not know what he was doing." trembled Jackson with fear somehow recalling the verse from Luke 23:34.
Jesus replied to Jackson. “You were not shown mercy in your life and yet you have learned to give it. Tommy was given my words and yet did not obey them. Our beloved Tommy will be restored but it will not be easy.”
Turning to Tommy, Jesus continued. “Your parents and your church taught you that merely claiming to believe in me somehow meant something. As a result, you claimed to believe I existed. However, like your parents and church that taught you that I exist, the knowledge of me meant little in your life. You could have seen the truth of my words and had you lived longer you may have. We must help you learn the value of mercy and give you another opportunity to share the mercy you so desperately need. If you persist in the arrogance you have been taught there will come a time when you will no longer be offered the mercy that up till now you have not sought. I have always and will always love you Tommy.”
