Deanna The Double Dutch Dreamer

Last night was my Sabbath night, so I did not cut on the TV or use my computer after leaving work. Instead, I cooked, cleaned, and read—both with my ears and with my eyes. With my ears, I read the book, “Double Dutch,” and with my eyes I read one speech out of “Great Speeches By African Americans.” I fell asleep thinking about slavery, freedom, and double dutch. Quite an odd combination.

I really enjoyed listening to, “Double Dutch.” I liked the middle school characters—I could hear echoes of students from years past—and I imagined the sport—a sport that I have always been fascinated with—and I wished that I could back handspring into two turning ropes and then cartwheel in and out of them with ease. But alas. I cannot. I’m fairly certain that I never will. In fact, I think the turning of the ropes at this point in my life might make me motion sick!

One of the things that I keep thinking about today is how double dutch gave the characters in the book purpose and meaning. More than one character declared that double dutch saved their life—that it gave them something to be good at, somewhere they could belong, a positive way to escape from their problems, and a goal toward which to strive. At one point in the book, the characters united in the Double Dutch Pledge and said:

I promise to do my best to:
• Report for practice on time;
• Work cooperatively with my coach, teammates, and Double Dutch officials;
• Strive to encourage good citizenship, always setting a good example;
• Practice good health habits—promising to be drug free;
• Demonstrate my best with daily school attendance, assignments, and home responsibilities.

I don’t know about you, but I think the Double Dutch pledge—which is purely fictional as far as I can tell—is a great way to live. I think workplaces would be transformed if everyone pledged to:
• Report to meetings on time;
• Work cooperatively with my boss, coworkers, and company officials;
• Strive to encourage good citizenship, always setting a good example;
• Practice good health habits—promising to be drug and other addiction free;
• Demonstrate my best with daily work attendance, job assignments, and home responsibilities.

And what about churches?
I promise to:
• Report to Sunday school, worship, choir practice, and committee meetings on time;
• Work cooperatively with my pastors, lay persons, committee leaders, and deacons;
• Strive to encourage good citizenship, always setting a good (Christ-like) example;
• Practice good health habits—promising to be drug free and not to over-eat at church pot-lucks;
• Demonstrate my best with worship attendance, missions, and home responsibilities.

I think you get the idea.

Deanna The Double Dutch Dreamer may never say the fictional Double Dutch Pledge at the fictional National Double Dutch Tournament, but she can make a pledge with her life to be the best God has called her to be. And she can do everything possible to make the church and her life’s expression of Christianity a place where people can come and feel welcomed and accepted, like they have a place to belong, like they have a positive escape from their problems, and like they have something that they are good at—whatever that something is—because we’re all good at something—even if it’s not Double Dutch.