In Limbo

March 4, 2025

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” ~ Colossians 3:12

It’s the only time in my life that I got punched.

It was a cold, wet, dreary winter day. After eating our lunches in the multipurpose we formed a line to go back to our 5th Grade classroom for recess.  Some of us pushed back desks and placed the Chubby Checker’s popular 45 record Limbo Rock on the record player. Soon we were singing along as we took turns trying to dance under the classroom yard stick.

We had a bully in our classroom by the name of Billy. He was one of those kids who had been held back a year for academic reasons. I didn’t know it at the time but later learned that his homelife was miserable, with an alcoholic father and an overwhelmed mother. Billy decided to butt in line in front of some of my girlfriends. I decided to intercede. I stepped in front of him, and declared, “you will have to go through me first if you want to butt in line.” The next thing I remember is being doubled over from the sucker punch to my gut I never saw coming.

It was perhaps one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done, and perhaps one of the most courageous things I’ve ever done. I was in limbo because I had no idea how to intervene other than through force. I learned that it would have been wiser to get some adult help. It would have been wiser to talk to Billy rather than confront him with an ultimatum. It would have been wiser to get to know him and have some compassion for him. It would have been wiser to talk things out. It would have been wiser to not act alone. It would have been wiser to put some space between us. It would have been better to have some conflict management skills under my belt.

Billie’s story didn’t end well. I learned a few years later that Billy was walking home with his older brother along the side of a road after dark, and they were hit by a drunken driver. Both died at the scene from their injuries.

I pray for Billy and his family. I pray for the brokenness of the world. In this limbo time,  I pray for the wisdom to respond wisely to bullying. I pray that you will as well. ~ Anne