Since the TV is rarely on in our home, we have not made the effort or spent the money to get all those extra channels.  This means that sometimes there are football games I want to watch but cannot get.  My buddy Kevin knows this so he charitably invites me over during football season to watch games. 

Admittedly football is, as Bill Cosby once said, “15 minutes of action crammed into 3 hours.”  So there is plenty of down time to do other stuff.  Kevin’s 7 year-old son, who I will call David, figured this out last season.  David decided that the time between plays would be best spent sword fighting, wrestling, or doing Power Ranger karate moves.  Guess who got elected as his a sparring partner?  That’s right, me. 

Sparring with David became part of the fun of football Saturdays.  David has no fear and, if he is at all concerned about his mild speech impairment, he does not show it.  David cannot say his R’s.  For example, on one occasion when my hair was the runway for a fighter jet, he said “It is going to land in your heyah.” 

R’s or no R’s, David has transformed football watching into a full-contact sport.  More than once I got stabbed when I foolishly let my guard down to watch a play.  Fortunately, he learned to warn me before attacking. 

One Saturday, he emerged from his room fully clothed in battle armor.  Helmet, shield, sword, chest protector, Power Ranger shoes – the whole works.  I knew I was in trouble. 

He assumed a fighting stance, held his sword high in the air and with the supreme confidence of a child, he challenged, “Pwepayah to face the fuwey of the jungle!”  I launched a surprise attack with a pillow and we both wound up laughing hysterically.  I think I might have even missed a play. 

As I later related David’s challenge with respectful amusement, I had cause to reflect on how profound the statement really was.  After all, it is a jungle out there and we do best when we are prepared.  In fact sometimes, it can be a furious jungle “In here” – in the heart.

I related this story last month to the attendees of the third annual Winter Wellness Forum.  I hope it helped them prepare to face their own furious jungles and I hope it will inspire you to do the same. 

Pwepayah!