Date Posted:16:36:32 10/08/07 Mon Author:Krytan Subject: "Joshua's Epiphany" Part 2
When we get home we can hear the phone ringing so mom goes to the phone and I take my stuff to my room. It’s other moms calling and asking about what happened at school. I hang out in my room. As fast as mom hangs up the phone rings again and she’s talking to another mom. The doorbell rings so I go check see who’s there. Opening the door It’s Trev, Dylan and Mandy. Hey guys, come on in. I lead them to my room.
“So Josh dude, what kinda trouble you in?” Trev asks with the other two nodding heads.
“None yet. Mr. Hanley gots to call the school board and they decide.”
I tell them. We hear the phone hang up and mom comes in my room.
“Hi gang.” She says.
“Hi Mrs. Trent they all say together.”
“Ummmmmm, Josh you do realize you are naked in here with Mandy?”
“Ya, Mom, I know but she saw me nakers in class so no reason for her not to see me now. Anyways before this is over lotsa people might see me nakers.”
“I guess that’s true dear.”
She says as the phone rings again and she goes to answer it.
“So what happened in class after I left?” I ask the gang.
“Well everyone started taking sides. One side says you’re right and the other side says you’re wacked.” Mandy states.
“We all said you’re right and everyone should do it to.” Dylan jumps in saying.
“But lots of peeps think you’re crazy and gonna get in alotta trouble.” Trev says.
“But we don’t.” Mandy says.
“No way Dude”, Dylan states. “That was the awesomest thing I ever saw.”
“Ya,” Both Trev and Mandy chime in saying.
“Um Josh, some of the boys in class was making jokes about you’re, ummmmmmm penis and balls, about them being so small, but alotta us girls told them that at least you gots some.” Mandy volunteers.
“Ya, dude you shoulda heard how fast the boys shut up joking about you being nakers.” Trev states.
“Ya, I think they were afraid the girls was gonna make them show them theirs.” Dylan says laughing.
“And we woulda to if they kept making fun of you.” Mandy says.
“WOW! All that for just taking my clothes off.” I say and we all start laughing.
“Josh, Honey, I got snacks in the kitchen if you all want to come and get them.”
“Thanks Mom” “Thanks Mrs. Trent,” my friends say together.
In the kitchen we drink cokes and eat chips while still talking about what happened.
“Josh, you think anyone else will do what you did. I mean take their clothes off at school?” Dylan asks.
“Don’t know. I did what God told me to do, it’s up to God now, whatever happens.” I state flatly.
“Well you know I would, cept my dad would blister my ass till I can’t sit down.” “Oh, Sorry Mrs. Trent.” Says Trev.
“Me too,” says Dylan and Mandy together.
“But me being a girl would be a bit more serious than you guys going nakers.” Mandy says.
“I know you guys would if you could. Don’t worry about it. God will tell those He wants to go nakers to do it and if He don’t tell anyone then I’ll be the only one.”
“What you mean it be more serious for you going nakers than us guys?” Asks Dylan
“Well you guys go skinnydipping and stuff all time. Being naked for guys isn’t as serious as it is for us girls.” Mandy tries to explain.
“Well that’s a load of crap. It’s just as serious for peeps seeing me nakers as it is any girl.” Trev says getting a little mad.
“Hey Guys, Don’t fight. It’s just as serious for anyone to go naked at school, cause you could go to jail. So, don’t get mad at each other ok? I think I’m gonna need my friends with me on this one.” I try to ease the tension.
“Ok Josh. We’re with you all the way dude.” Trev says. “But right now I think I need to get home before I get in trouble.”
“Me too” says Dylan.
“And me too.” Says Mandy.
The boys leave and Mandy hangs back a little.
“Ummmmmmmm Josh, Ummmmmmmmm You look cute nakers.” Mandy says and gives me a quick kiss on cheek and runs outta the house.
Mom and dad spend the rest of the night and weekend on the phone. Talking to this one and that one. Seems by Sunday everyone in town knows about me being nakers. I stay in the house all day Friday and Saturday. Don’t wanna give the cops any reason to arrest me. Dad is supporting me being naked too. He called Pastor John and talked to him and told him about what happened at school and why I was doing what I was doing and all that. Least I didn’t have to explain it again. Dad told Pastor John that I wouldn’t be at church Sunday so He wouldn’t have to explain me being naked to the congregation. But Pastor John said something like,
“Nonsense. Joshua is a member of this church. And He is doing what God is telling Him to do. Josh better well be at church or he would personally come and drag me there.”
So, Sunday morning I got ready for church as usual, except for getting dressed. LOLOL and we all drove to church. Pastor John met us in the parking lot and took me to his office and asked me to wait there until he talked to the congregation. Sitting in his office I am thinking about how much trouble I am causing the people I love. But shortly, Pastor John comes in smiling and says,
“Ok, Josh, time to go to Sunday School.”
When I get to my Sunday school class, everyone is standing and clapping for me. The room is packed full of kids. Lots more than we usually have. Kids I never seen before at church. Sister Althea waits for me to get all the way in and then asks,
“Joshua, will you give us a testimony?”
Oh no. I didn’t count on this. What will I say?
“Ok. Ya, I’ll give one.” I tell her, while my mind rushes to think of something to say. I stand in the front of the room. Did I say I hate talking in front of people? Well it happened again.
“As you all can see, I’m naked.”
The room starts laughing. Which gives me more time to think of something to say. When they stop with Sister Althea’s urging, I continue,
“When I first thought about this and God first started showing me what he wanted me to do, I didn’t think about being here in church with no clothes on. It was just going to be something for school. But God has a way of magnifying things for His glory. So, now instead of just being naked at school to get them to let God back in school, I am naked all the time, even here at church. God showed me in Isaiah, where God told Isaiah to go naked for 3 years, that He wanted me to do the same thing. The reason is that God wants back in our schools. He doesn’t like being locked out and the devil hurting so many kids and Him not being able to protect us. God loves us very much and when kids are killing kids in schools, it hurts God more than anything. So, God showed me, that through the First Amendment, we all have the right to practice religion anywhere, even in school. But schools say no we can’t. They got courts telling them that we can’t. The courts are wrong. We do have the Constitutional right as well as God’s Right to have God in our school. So last Thursday at school, I gave my history presentation and took off all my clothes and told everyone that I won’t put them back on until they let God back in our school. Right now, I don’t know if I am going to be the only one doing this or if I am going to go to jail or what. But tomorrow mom is taking me to school like always, except I’ll be naked. So I really need your prayers, because it’s scary being naked when everyone else has clothes on and is looking at you like you are a freak. Ok. Sister Althea, I guess that’s all I got to say.”
And with that Sister Althea took over Sunday School and I got to sit down and just listen for awhile. Then its time for real church and it starts over again. I walk out into the main sanctuary and it’s full to busting over. I find mom and dad and go over and sit with them. People that haven’t been to church in like forever keep looking over at me, especially when we are standing singing hymns. Pastor John steps up to his place and starts talking.
“I see God’s house is full this morning. It’s good to see so many old friends. Before I start today’s sermon, I have these special announcements. There will be a special deacon’s meeting right after church in my office. Mr. and Mrs. Trent and Joshua, will you please join us. Then tonight will be a special service and a vote by the members of our church. If you are a member here I strongly urge you to be in attendance tonight. We as a church have an opportunity that God has presented to us and we need to decide as a body of Christ how we will proceed. So please if at all possible, be here tonight.”
Then Pastor John went to preaching a regular Sunday morning service with altar call, like he does every Sunday. No mention of me sitting in the congregation totally nakers or anything at all about what’s going on at school. After church, mom, dad and me slip out to Pastors office. We are the first to get there because the deacons and pastor got duties to perform before they can get free. Shortly they start arriving, one or two at a time until finally Pastor comes in with the head deacon and shuts the office door. Once everyone finds a seat, pastor asks for everyone to join hands and we pray. It’s a very long prayer and it’s centered about asking God for guidance about making a decision about me. Then Pastor gives a short talk about why we are all here for the meeting. And then he turns to me and asks me to give a very detailed account of the last two weeks that led to my being here naked in his office. Then Pastor looks from one deacon to the other and asks for their opinion. Once they each have said their piece, Pastor says,
“I agree with all of you. I see the hand of God in all that has happened in Joshua’s life this last two weeks. I didn’t want to say anything beforehand, because I didn’t want to bias your own assessments. But now that we are all in agreement that Joshua is being used of God to perform something here in our community and schools, the next question is what are we as a church going to do?”
Each deacon gave a short talk about how the church should support me and aid me in any way that they could. Pastor John, smiled and said,
“I knew from the beginning that God gave me deacons that are in tune with His Spirit and today you have shown me you are all much, much more. Thank you all for your service to this church and to God.
Joshua, I have a question for you and your parents. What do you plan to do tomorrow about going to school?”
I look at mom and then dad and they both nod at me and dad says,
“Son, it’s your decision. God has chosen you to carry this task and therefore only you can make the decision of what to do. But we will support you in whatever decision you make.”
Then everyone looks to me.
“Well, if I go to school there is going to be trouble and I will probably be arrested. If I stay home, then what I have done won’t mean anything. They will just let me stay home and ignore me and God. I started this because God wants back in our school and has the legal right to be there. So really there isn’t much of a decision to make. I gotta go to school and whatever God wants to happen is going to happen.”
“Ok. Then, your decision is to go to school naked. If they let you in, then you go to classes? If they call police and have you arrested then you go to jail? That’s your final decision?”
Pastor asks again, and every deacon watches me as I answer.
“Yes, sir, I go to school just like I am now with my books ready for class and it’s up to God and Mr. Hanley what happens after I get there.”
“Okay then. That’s all we need to hear for now. Tonight we will present the congregation our plan of support for Joshua and give each member an opportunity to vote on that support.
Joshua, I will ask that you sit up on the dais with me tonight. If people are going to be asked to support you then they need to see you. How do you feel about giving your testimony one more time?”
“Scared.”
Is my one word answer and everyone smiles and laughs just a little.
“Joshua, You have been naked now for three days in front of at least a third of the town. What do you have to be scared of?” Pastor asks.
“I really, really, really hate talking in front of people.”
“OK, I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you the opportunity tonight but if you don’t want to, I’ll tell your story so you won’t have to.” Pastor says.
“No sir. I have to tell it. I don’t want to and I’m scared, but God gave me this to do so I gotta do it.” I reply.
Deacon’s heads start nodding up and down and so did Pastors as he says,
“Very well said Joshua.” Pastor said and then he said,
“ Now if you will kneel on the floor in front of us, and everyone circle Joshua and lay hands on him, it’s time we pray down God’s Glory upon him so he can carry this task to completion.”
And with that, I was prayed over and a warm glow filled my soul. Then Pastor invited us to Sunday Dinner at his house, which we went to and enjoyed.
Sunday evening church was a circus. People that I didn’t even know lived in our town were there. Chairs from the Sunday school classrooms had to be brought out and lined up down the aisles, in the back and even up front close to the altar. Every little space had a chair in it. People were really squished in the pews. And everywhere I looked people was looking at me. Sitting up on the dais right beside Pastor John’s chair. He of course wasn’t up here yet. He was at the door greeting everyone. And then something I didn’t count on. In came the mayor, police chief and school superintendent with Pastor. He guided them to chairs right up front so they got a real close look at me and then stepped on the Dais and sat next to me. Church began with singing and prayer and Pastor reading scriptures. Then he introduced me and asked if I would give testimony. I stood up and began telling everything that has happened over the last two weeks in as much detail as I could remember. I told about my history assignment for school. I told about Pastors sermons and Sister Althea’s Sunday school lessons. I told about our family devotions reading of Isaiah. I told about my epiphany to stand up for God at school because He isn’t allowed in school to stand up for Himself. I told about how scared I am about being naked and talking to so many people, but I have to do it because it’s what God wants. Then I look down at the three powers of our town, the Mayor, the Police Chief, and the School Superintendent and say,
“Tomorrow is a school day. I am going to school. I have a right to go to school. I am going to school dressed exactly as I am now. I have a constitutional right to practice my religion. If it’s part of my religion to be naked here in church then its part of my religion to be naked in school. The Supreme Court says God isn’t allowed in my school. The Supreme Court is wrong. I read the First Amendment. It doesn’t say anything at all about God and schools. What it does say is that we, all of us, can practice our religion anywhere including school. I don’t want kids shooting kids in my school. I want God to protect us from that evil. Only way God can do that is if He can go inside our school. So He can send Angels to walk the halls and sit in our classrooms and keep evil out. So tomorrow I am going to school naked. If I get arrested then I get arrested. But least I am taking a stand for God. And then I get to stand in front of a judge and tell the judge that the court is wrong locking God out of my school. I hope I don’t get arrested. I just wanna go to school and pray to God every morning and say the pledge of allegiance and maybe sing God Bless America. What’s wrong with that?”
Then I turn to Pastor and say,
“I guess that’s all I got to say.” And go sit down.
Pastor gets up and says,
“Joshua, my boy, that was enough. You said it all.”
Turning to the congregation, he says,
“Today after morning services, we held a deacon board meeting and decided that Joshua is acting in accordance with our Faith and in direction of God. We voted to support Joshua. The leaders of this church will stand with Joshua. In court we will testify that he has our full support and that he is in fact practicing his religion by going naked, in accordance to specific scriptures. Right now, I want to have a show of hands of the members of this church that will support Joshua.”
Looking around hands fly up all over the church.
“Now, those members that believe it is not God’s will that we support Joshua? Raise your hands.”
No hands raised.
“Then as a church body we declare that we are in full and unanimous support for Joshua. We are going to pray for Joshua in just a few minutes, but first, here’s what each one of us can do to support Joshua. After services, make sure you come up to Joshua and tell him you are supporting him. Tomorrow, be at the school to support him, even if that means you are late for work. You being a little late for work, isn’t any sacrifice compared to what Joshua is going through. Sitting here with us tonight are the very people who will decide what happens tomorrow. They have the authority to end this and open our schools to God or arrest Joshua and open our town to the national media. Tomorrow we could be praying inside the school for God to enter and protect our children from the designs of satan or we can be in front of TV cameras telling the world that 11 year old Joshua is locked up for being a Christian. Lastly, tonight pray and ask God what He would have you personally do. Even though the burden was first given to Joshua, I believe that God would have many, take up their own cross and follow after Jesus. Follow in the example of Joshua.”
Pastor stopped speaking and just looked from person to person for a long minute, then he said,
“Please join hands and let’s pray the Glory of God down upon this place and specifically upon Joshua.”
The prayer went on for a long time. People shouting “Amen” and “Hallelujah” all through the prayer. After the prayer, Pastor stepped down and talked to the Power of Three. I stood at the Altar as person after person walked by and told me how they were praying for me and told me how brave I was and that they would be at school tomorrow to support me. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the church thinned out and I could leave and go home. I was totally exhausted. It had been a very long day and I had been at the center of most of it, which is something I really don’t like. To this day, I don’t know why God picked me of all people. I hate being in the limelight. I hate speaking in front of people. Yet, He chose me, and there wasn’t anything for it, but to do the Will of God.
“Time to get up Josh.” I hear my mom calling.
I flop out of bed and go to the bathroom to pee.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” I say to myself. There really isn’t anything that feels as good as my morning pee. Since I don’t have to get dressed, I go to the kitchen for breakfast. Mom went all out. Bacon, eggs, grits and toast with strawberry jam. Dad joins us for breakfast, which he never does. He usually gets dressed and heads to work. But today, he stayed home from work and is going to school with me. After breakfast I dash into the bathroom to brush my teeth and then into my bedroom for my books and go to the front door ready for school. When I go outside to get in the car, I see cars lined up and down my street on both sides. Lots of cars with people in them waiting. Just waiting. I get in the backseat of our car and mom gets in passenger side and dad drives. Away we go to school. I look out the back window and see all the cars that were parked now pulling out behind us. We got a parade. When we pull up to school, again, cars are parked everywhere with people just sitting in them waiting. With all the cars everywhere is there going to be anywhere for us to stop so I can go into the school? When we get right to the front of the school, a space is open and Pastor John is standing there watching for us. I see people, kids and parents standing around all over the grass and sidewalks in front of my school, all looking over at me in my car. Standing at the front door of the school are Principal Hanley, the School Superintendent, the Mayor and the Police Chief, with 4 other policemen standing beside him.
Before I can get out of the car, Pastor John and lots of church people surround the car and lay hands on it and start praying. They pray and pray and pray, and I feel my fear go away. Then they stop praying and back away lining the walkway to the front door with kids in front and parents behind them. I go to open my door and before I can get it open this time, Trevor, Dylan and Mandy run over and stand in front of it.
“Hi Guys.” I say.
“Hey Josh!” They say together.
“You guys are blocking my door.” I say.
“Ya, we know.” Trevor says.
“People aren’t ready for you yet.” Dylan continues.
“Almost ready Josh.” Mandy finishes.
“Ok!” They say together and back away from the door.
Must be thousands of people in front of the school and all the kids are lined up in two lines leaving me a walkway to the front door.
I open my door and step out of the car, naked as the day I was born in front of the entire school and town. Then I look over at Trevor and he’s taking his clothes off. I look at Dylan and he’s taking his clothes off too. And the shock of shocks, Mandy is taking her clothes off too. When they are naked Mandy says,
“Ok, Josh, we are ready. Start walking, but walk real, real slow. Ok.”
I look at her puzzled and in shock. This is the first and only time I ever seen her totally nakers and just nod my head. I take one step and look to the side and the kids beside me start taking their clothes off. I look over the other way and they are taking their clothes off too. Then when they are naked they get in line behind me. I take another step and the next group of kids start stripping naked and get in line behind me. Another step and the same thing happens. Then another step and again more naked kids getting in line behind me. By the time I reach the flagpole, half the kids at our school are naked in line behind me and the other half are waiting their turn to start stripping off their clothes. Parents on both sides standing where their kids stripped off holding their clothes. Again one step at a time I approach the front of the school with the entire student enrollment standing with me, totally naked from hair to toes. When we reach the Power of Three, plus Principal Hanley, we all stop and look up at them standing on the steps to the front door of the school and wait for the bell. They look over the sea of naked kids standing in front of them and hold a whispered conference. One of the things I could overhear them discussing was about arresting me but what were they going to do with the rest of the kids some of which were their nephews and nieces. Then the bell rings and everyone gets quiet. No one knows what to do next. We look at each other and shrug our shoulders, cause we don’t know if we should try and go inside the school or wait to be told what to do.
Then Principal Hanley stepped forward and said,
“School has been cancelled for today. Everyone can go home.”
Everyone just stood looking up at him not knowing what to do.
“Go home. No school today.” He said again.
We still just stood there looking at him.
“Principal Hanley.” I said.
“We are here for school. It’s a school day. We want to go to school.”
He got really mad, his face turned red and his eyes were on fire when he yelled.
“NOT UNDRESSED LIKE THAT YOU’RE NOT”
I said so softly I didn’t think anyone would hear it, but everyone heard it for some reason,
“Let God in with us and we will all put our clothes back on.”
He started charging me, as I heard adults praising God and shouting amen to what I said. He almost got to me when the police chief and the mayor grabbed him and stopped him from tackling me. They pulled him back up the steps as he shouted,
“YOU GOD DAMNED TROUBLEMAKER. IF I EVER GET HOLD OF YOU, YOU’LL WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN!”
When they got him to the top of the steps the mayor stepped forward along with the towns attorney and spoke.
“Kids, listen to me. You can’t fight the Supreme Court. We would let you pray in school if we could, but the ACLU would be all over us, faster than you kids could put your clothes back on, with a lawsuit. So you see, it’s out of our hands. I admire all of you for your courage and determination but it’s misdirected. You are fighting a battle you can’t win. No one wins against the federal government. Do you understand? Surely you can see this can’t work?”
I speak up.
“What God is for, no man can stand against. God wants in our school. He wants to protect us from bad things and bad people. He can’t do that when he is locked outside. Right now, the devil is inside our school waiting to hurt us. God wants to stop him. The federal government can’t stop him. The Supreme Court can’t stop him. The police chief can’t stop him. Only God can stop him and God can only stop him if He is allowed inside our school. This is a school day. We are here ready for school. Let us in. Let God in with us, and we will put our clothes back on. Lock God out and we go in naked and see how long it will be before CNN and FOX News is here to broadcast LIVE from Liberty Middle School.”
The Mayor speaks up fast.
“OH, Kids. No need to call the media. You don’t want them here filming you naked do you? The whole country will see you. We don’t need that, now do we?”
I speak up.
“No Sir. None of us want that. We just want God in our school with us. If that ACLU comes here then kick them out. It’s our school and our town. It don’t belong to them. If they don’t like God then that’s their business but it ain’t no concern of theirs if we like God and want God in our school. It ain’t the ACLU that gets shot in schools when the devil attacks us. It ain’t the ACLU that gets hooked on drugs in school. It ain’t the ACLU that gets beat up by gangbangers or shot by drive-bys. It’s us kids. The ACLU ain’t here to protect us and can’t even if they were here. Only God can protect us from evil. So, let God back in our school. PLEASE!”
The mayor shrugs his shoulders and looks over at the adults standing around us and asks,
“OK. People, you all understand what this will mean if we institute prayer back in our schools? It will mean a fight with the Government with the High Priced lawyers of the ACLU leading the attack. There will be injunctions and lawsuits and maybe even National Guard troops. If you want to take on this fight, then you have to be prepared to go all the way with it. It could bankrupt the town. It could mean people be arrested if they continue to pray after a federal judge tells them to stop. To let God back in our schools will mean a full-fledged attack from the government on all levels. The government will withhold all funding to our schools and town. I want you all to understand the implication of this action to it’s fullest. But if you all agree, then kids put your clothes back on and go to class, and one of the many pastors here will lead the school in prayer for the first time in decades. God will once again, be welcome in our school and we give Him full authority for the protection of our children. How say you?”
Amens and Shouts and Hallelujahs were heard all over the school grounds. Parents and kids started trying to get to each other so they could put their clothes back on. Trevor, Dylan, Mandy and me tried to make our way back to my car so we could get dressed. I looked at them and said,
“You guys look cool nakers. Maybe we should go nakers when you come over to my house?” What you think?”
Mandy spoke up first.
“No way. It took the guys all night to talk me into this and I ain’t never going naked again for no one.”
We all started laughing and looking at Mandy, who was now trying to cover her naked body up as best she could. Then she said,
“But guys, you can go naked all you want. I like the sights.” And smiled real big.
Then we all looked down at what was showing and tried covering up as best we could.
We got to the car, got dressed and said our good-byes to our parents and went into school. Pastor John was the first Pastor to pray in our school over the loud speakers, but not the last. Every morning a different pastor came and prayed. Every church got a turn. The ACLU never came around. CNN nor Fox ever sent a reporter. No one on the outside of Amite County, Mississippi ever found out about our naked school day. And so far the Federal Government hasn’t sent anyone to make us stop praying. But most important, God is now in our school. We have Angels walking the halls and protecting us from the devil. We are finally safe.
Hope I get an “A” on this report. I really, really, really need it to get my grades up. Oh, and Principal Hanley ain’t our principal anymore. It seems some people didn’t like the way he threatened me.
May God Bless you and Your School.
Joshua A. Trent. 11 Years Old. 6th grade, Liberty Middle School.
