As part of our membership with Harvest Hosts we get to park our van free of charge at a variety of places, including select golf courses.
We recently spent two days at Piney Point Golf Club in North Carolina. While my back wouldn't allow me to even hit the putting green, we did get to spend some time at the pool, watching as a group of about six pre-teen kids splashed around. We learned so much.
We gave them their space, and never went in the pool itself, just sat off to the side working on our tans.
As we chatted to each other, we could hear the kids. They were playing some sort of game they had just made up. Even though there was a staff member on duty and some parents were around, the kids surely felt as if they had the entire pool to themselves. Because, really, they did.
At some point, the biggest kid in the pool tried to change the rules of the impromptu game as it was being played. We couldn't tell if he was doing so for his benefit, or to impress a girl, but for whatever reason, he really wanted the rules changed.
Another kid, smaller, younger and much less physically imposing than the one looking for the change wasn't budging.
Initially, he reminded the bigger kid these were the rules they established.
The bigger kid wasn't listening to that angle.
Here's where it got amazing.
Rather than appeal to the staff member, a parent, or two strangers from Florida, the smaller kid stopped, paused play and took a breath.
Then he calmly reminded the bigger kid that they had all agreed to the rules of this made-up game beforehand. And if he wasn't going to honor his word from just a few minutes ago, how could he ever be trusted?
Wow.
We looked at each other in amazement. Whatever happened next was immaterial. If the bigger kid tried to pummel the little guy; if he acquiesced; or if he ignored him; the small fella was not afraid.
He wasn't afraid to stand up for what he felt was right, and he wasn't afraid of the consequences.
We'd love to tell you that the bigger kid caved and play resumed. Alas, that wouldn't be the case on this day.
He simply blew off the little leader, quit the game and went off into another section of the pool.
But, the other kids continued to play the game as agreed upon. And without the contrarian, they seemed happier.
As our visit to their world was simply a snapshot in time for us all, we will likely never know what kind of adults each of these kids will become.
But we have a pretty good feeling one will be a leader.
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