Episode #23 of the Wise Guy Wednesday series features Sonny Lemmons (no, he’s not a bright citrus fruit).
Sonny is a stay-at-home dad, a writer of stuff, a receiver of grace, and a drinker of coffee. His wife Ashley loves him, but has been tempted to yank his boxer briefs straight up to his ears at times.
Disclaimer: I suggest you put down the coffee mug while you read this.
Wasteband of Brothers
We’ve all been there. We’ve seen it played out in a movie, bore witness during the glory that was middle-school gym class, or we may have been the unfortunate recipient of one ourselves (raises hand).
courtesy of Fox
That’s right: I’m talking about the bane of the existence of every prepubescent boy who was a band geek, A/V club member, or who ever played or talked about Magic: The Gathering while at school.
The wedgie.
That snag-and-tug maneuver that helps ensure high school choirs will always have a tenor section.
What’s interesting to note is that while the majority of physical wedgies may cease once all parties are old enough to have a learner’s permit, the spirit of the wedgie echoes on throughout many of our adult lives.
God knows if you put enough men in a closed environment, we will eventually revert to seventh-grade humor, ridiculing one another, throwing down “Yo momma” jokes – all in jest. Until. Until there comes the time when the waistband gets pulled a little too tight and gets looped over our heart.
I’ve been there and done that. I’ve crossed into that realm of Proverbs 26:18-19 where after offending or hurting someone, you try to cover it by saying “I was only joking.” I didn’t mean what I said. I didn’t mean for that to be as offensive as it came across. I didn’t mean to sound racist, sexist, homophobic, or to do or say something that could hurt you or make you stumble.
And certainly not to grieve the Spirit.
Now, this is not to say that we can’t sit around on the couch cracking wise to one another. But as believers, we are called to something more, something bigger. We are called to maintain a heart of Ephesians 5:4 and not get coarse in the course of our fun.
While many of us might not wish to literally greet one another with a hagios, that term for “holy kiss” found in Romans 16:16 refers to us acting to one another with our kiss (or, the administered wedgie) as being consecrated, as in devotion to service of our God. Kissing in spirit, not in actuality.
We can show the world – and make our moms proud – by demonstrating through our actions that our underwear is clean and holy, set apart.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of a wedgie?
Boxers or briefs? Hanes or Fruit of the Loom?
For more from Sonny checkout his blog or follow him on Twitter.
I never actually received a physical wedgie. I think the thong intimidated my bullies.
I think I just answered your other two questions.
Next time I visit my therapist? I’m bringing this blog post up.
THanks for reading, regardless of the emotional scarring you have brought everyone. (Just kidding, dude.)
sounds like you and i could match notes. of all the coolest people i know, hardly a one was a “cool kid” in school. i think i worry about my daughter having too easy a social time to build character…almost as much as i worry about all those nelsons with itchy wasteband fingers. it’s a dilemma i’m prepared to face as it comes. kindness and compassion can come either way.
I think we could match notes on SEVERAL things, friend.
And I have the same worries, hopes and fears about Kai. All I can say is we turned out relatively okay (*snicker*) and I think we can pass on the lessons from our scars to our kids.
Haha! Great post, and wOnderful encouragement to let the world know we are Christians by our love… Not our Wedgies.
I so want to sing that sitting around a campfire…
Thanks for reading, Lib. And for everything.
LOL.
Of course, any wedgie talk is my kind of talk. Good stuff Sonny.
As far as things go, I prefer boxers (harder to receive wedgie with them) and I always go with the FOTL brand. I also get romantic and try Calvin Klein, and sometimes even Commando. Try a wedgie then? huh? huh?
Not gonna lie: I totally had you in mind when I came up with this, Figured for all your talk about wedgies, there HAD to be a lesson in there somewhere.
A wonderful perspective – to me especially – mom to 4 sons!
*smile* Thanks, Em.
being female, we don’t do wedgies. girls prefer to use their words to wreak soul shattering devastation to your self esteem.
i would’ve preferred the wedgie.
Honestly, words hurt more and cut deeper. And have more of an impact.
I prefer to choose to show my scars as a sign of where I have been healed, not where I was hurt once.
Wow! What a great community discussion topic. My wedgie story is way to long for a comment here. Let’s just say that I have a permanent scar to show for my fight against the would-be perpetrators.
Briefs…Hanes or Jockey.
Thanks for the post!
Who knew underwear could bring so many people together? …wait; let me rephrase that…
Thanks for reading. We all have those scars to show, from those external to those internal…
Moe gave me a virtual wedgie for my birthday and is threatening another one if he ever sees me at Catalyst.
When I do wear underwear it’s Hanes briefs.
Oh good – see he keeps threatening to give me one in a week…at Catalyst…
Some of my friends in grade school (and my family members) would give each other wedgies out of fun, not necessarily out of the band geek/AV club/etc teasing. So I’ve received and given a few wedgies in my time.
I usually wear Hanes boxer-briefs and sometimes Jockey Boxers (more for lounging around).
Tis better to give than to receive. A number of things. Wedgies included.
Yes, but it was for a video shoot and I willingly let them. It ripped my underwear and I vow to never go through that again.
My bro and I always gave each other wedgies. If we heard a “rip”, then it was a success!
I’m a boxers guy.