It’s VBS season, and that little crocheted chicken in pride of place on the shelf takes me back decades, to the time of Bible verses, simple crafts and red punch and circle butter cookies.
The long, hot, dull summer (which seemed so exciting before we actually got to it but then got bored after a few days at home) would be interrupted by the thrills of VBS. Kids would hop from church to church, week to week. Church vans and mothers would drive children between town and country or country and town. Kids in town would walk.
We’d play Bible Bingo, hear Bible stories, make crafts and, of course, have snacks. Some of the churches would be air-conditioned, oh, what a blessed relief. Sweaty kids would pour into a Sunday school room, sit cross-legged on the linoleum floor and, for a few minutes, just bask in the refreshing cold.
I used to get in trouble, though I never meant to. If there was one thing VBS taught me, it was to not ask questions.
I’d be all wrapped up in some story or explanation but be stumped by a seemingly insurmountable inconsistency. After Mrs. Belinda described what Heaven looks like, I – truly perplexed – asked why it’s a big deal that the streets are paved of gold if we are not supposed to be materialistic here on Earth and most certainly would not care about gold once we are living above the clouds with God. I was scolded for being impertinent.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I understood that a lot of these concepts are simply beyond the grasp of human understanding, and VBS teachers don’t have all the answers. They are just good folks doing their best to help keep children on the right path and enrich their lives a bit.
From being an earnest child afraid to ask questions, I turned into a savvy teenager who understood the economies of the point system.
When I was in high school, the prize table included a Walkman, that 1980’s era radio/cassette player with earphones.
I knew I’d never in my life be able to afford such a luxury, and my only chance to get one was to get the most points at VBS. I was at the edge of my seat for Bible Bingo. Each night, I memorized every single Bible verse we were given, including all the bonus ones. My fingers flew faster than anyone else’s when we were in the contest to be the fastest to find a Bible verse.
At the end of the day Friday, I was bursting with confidence that I would be the first person to walk up to that prize table.
And I was.
Trying to contain my excitement, but knowing I was blushing furiously, I tried to keep my pace steady so as not to betray how fast my heart was beating as I walked up to the prize table.
I chose that sleek black Walkman, which was priced at an out-of-this-world 1,500 points, and I still had points left over.
The next thing that called my attention was a cute little off-white crocheted chicken. I had to have it. I spent most of the rest of my 300 points on that.
When school started, my best friend and I broke apart the headband which held the earphones. That made one earphone for her, one for me, and we’d listen to radio station G105 on every bus trip to and from school.
That was my last VBS. By the next summer I was working during my school breaks. Eventually, the Walkman broke and then got either lost or thrown out.
But that crocheted chicken still makes me smile.
