2010 Catalog Essay Contest

HONORABLE MENTION
Mrs. Daniel Swank

Playing Knight

“Do you want to play thief?“

“Yeah. Dory can be the store lady, and I can be the owner. You can rob us. Are you going to have a gun or a bomb?”

“Maybe the thief can be really terrible, like the one who-“

“Steven, could you please come here a minute?”

When I skipped up to Dad, his saddened look took me by surprise. I thought we were being really good; we were even letting Dory play with us.

“Steven, you’re twelve now. I know you were just playing, but there’s something I would like you to do today.”

“What’s that, Dad?”

“I’d like you to play knights with all your energy and heart today. How’s that sound?”

“...Okay.“ I was off in a flash, digging for my swords and shields.

An hour went by. We engaged in a 1500’s version of thief—with a habergeon instead of a bomb.

“I’m bored,” Jim insisted. “This is the same thing; we’ve done this all day!”

“But Dad said-“

“Never mind. This is boring.”

“Maybe we aren’t doing the knight thing right. Let’s get an idea from Dad.”

We came in, dragging our swords, with Dory pulling her rope and fake money. We all looked dolefully at Dad.

“Are you having fun with the knight work? “ His grin faded when he saw Dory’s face. “Dory doesn’t seem to be having fun.”

“I’ve been tied to the tree three times and let loose,” Dory cried. “Knights might be having fun, but not me. I-“

“Steven,” Dad looked at me squarely. “Do you know how knights make decisions?”

“No, sir.”

“They make every decision based on truths they have learned. The truths they believe dictate all they do, all the time. Did you ever read the Knight’s Creed?” His eyes never left mine.

“I think so.”

“Do you remember the other night when we talked of how Joab and Abishai ‘played the men’?”

“That was a great war story.” I remembered.

“Those men fought for their families—for their people—for the cities of their God. They had something to fight for and something to fight against.”

“Mr. Sill,” Jim interjected, “do you think the knight thing could be boring?”

Dad raised an eyebrow. Then he smiled softly at Jim. “Do you have any idea what you are fighting against?”

We looked blankly at Dad.

“You fight against an enemy who is vicious. He is very smart, fast, and hateful. He devours knights and steals hearts of maidens. He never plays for fun. He is out for life, for blood...for heart. He has a terrible tail that swiftly defeats the faint-hearted; his terrible breath melts valiant hearts and makes them tremble at the knees. He lurks...He makes knights his workers, turning their hearts deceitfully and using them on his side...The worst part is...He is invisible.”

“Invisible?” all voices repeated.

“Invisible. Just when you think you have him figured, his tactics convince the best of us to go against our Creed.”

We were silent. We stared past him, seeing the enemy develop.

“Now Steven,” Dad said in a charging voice. “You be the king. You look at Jim, who will defend Dory from the enemy at all costs. Look at him right through his eyes and tell him ‘Play the Knight!’ and dub him. Got it?”

“Yeah!” Jim yelled. “Terrible monster doesn’t stand a chance!”

“Play the Knight, boys,” Dad called as we piled out the door. “Protect Dory!”

We were off. The time flew by. Dory—the protected one—was saved from a tree, from a puddle, from a car (really!), and from a dog. Jim and I flew into action every time she was in distress. Our focus turned from our fun to her needs. Habergeons thrown, hideaways used, trees climbed.

That night after supper, we said goodbye to Jim. I lay in bed and wondered at the terrible enemy we were up against. Closing my eyes, I saw his hateful look-the deceiver of the brave at heart. I saw him vanish from my eye as I remembered that he is invisible. Then I wondered...If he is invisible, how will I know how to fight him or how to defend the creed? I wondered if knights should prepare...How do they know when...

A knock interrupted my visions.

“Ready for bed? How was your day?”

“It was really great, Dad. You always come up with the best games. Did you play the knight when you were a kid?”

Dad gave me a smile and looked at me. Quietly and thoughtfully he spoke. “Actually, I put on armor and play the knight every day, Steven. It is a daily battle against our unseen enemy.”

“You mean Satan?”

“Yes. You know, Steven, every man must choose. He must fight for right and obey the Creed, God’s Word, or he will play the fool like Saul when he lived for fame and self. There was a day when Saul emphatically said, ‘I have played the fool.’ It’s always one or the other. Play the knight or play the fool. It is a daily, almost hourly choice made clear by our obedience or disobedience to the Word.”

My life has progressed from playing to living. I now look back on my Father’s words and realize what preparation he put into me in my forming years. All the night talks, the Bible times we shared as a family (while I rolled a ball in my pocket or rolled upside down on the couch), the Scripture I memorized for home, church, competitions, etc. Little did I know that I was a knight preparing for the battle-the daily battle-the hourly battle- that would last the entirety of my life.

I recall when my Father died the same year Jim and I had played Knights. I think of how God met my specific needs. As a young man, I struggled when Mom had to go to work. I remember the doubts that developed in my struggling heart, trying to decide who really were the fools—the world or Christians. I remember when Dory was sick, and I left my entrance exam to be with her. That night, while mom kept vigil, I got to my point of surrender and realized that knighthood has a cost. But it is not one that I pay. I remember realizing for the first time that the Bible is my battle book. Now I see what Dad meant all those years ago. I cling to the cross for my Knighthood; I trust His Word as my plan and my defense. I watch as the world tries to steal all purity, truthfulness, and loyalty. I even see my own heart as a potential defector. When I am weak, I remember my Saviour and what my Knighthood cost Him. I play the man. I play with all my energy and heart. When I am married, I will defend my wife and children at all costs. When a young man wants my daughters, I will look him through the eyes and tell him,

“Play the Knight”.

With His Word, with His Spirit, with thoughts of my earthly Father, THIS IS MY CREED.

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