In my novel, Summer of Champions, 11-year-old Joe Don, who is tall for his age, gets hassled by a movie theater manager. The manager thinks that anyone his size must be at least 12 years old, which was the age when kids had to start paying adult movie admission. The manager had to check. He lost money when 12 and 13-year-olds passed for 11 and paid children’s admission.
Several years ago I witnessed a similar sort of thing. Teenage ticket-takers at local movie theaters were assuming that people in their mid-50s were old enough, say 62, to pay senior citizen admission. Many did not seem to mind that some kid thought they were older than they really were. The reduced price was worth it. Movie theater managers caught on pretty quickly, though. Nowadays people claiming senior citizen prices often have to produce an ID.
Isn’t it amazing how people sneak around? In addition to the lure of a cheaper ticket, older teens try to pass for 21 so they can drink in bars. Or people take home clothes from stores under the pretext of trying them on; but then “sneak out” to a party wearing the new item, only to return it the next day “unused.” Or spouses sneak around on each other. There’s a lot of sneaking around.
The truth is, though, it’s almost always wrong. You want a test as to whether or not what you’re doing is wrong? If you have to sneak around to do it, most likely it is.
John says about Jesus that “the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” Jesus’ example and teachings and accomplishments are the light by which we can tell what’s right from what’s wrong. As followers of Jesus we are to live in the light. Sneaking around is an activity done in the dark. It’s rarely appropriate. - DJ
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