Our theme for the month of October is “childhood fears.”
This piece goes out to all my fellow homeschoolers/anyone raised in an Evangelical home…we got low-key traumatized!
Scenario One
I’m ten years old, running gleefully through our neighborhood with my friends. I should have been home an hour ago, but we’re having so much fun!
Finally, we traipse back to our separate homes, loud yells of “See you tomorrow!” and “It’s my turn next time we play!” echoing through the air as we make plans for our next adventure. I walk up the steps to my house and make my way to my room, my mind still preoccupied with aforementioned plans.
And then it suddenly hits me.
The house is really quiet. Where is my mom or dad? I thought my brother would be home too from hanging out with his friends, but I haven’t seen him for a few hours.
I race out of my room, calling out for my mom, but a terrified thought is already festering in the back of my mind.
I got left behind!
Scenario Two
I’m thirteen years old in our garage/classroom (homeschooled, remember), trying to cram random names and dates for an upcoming history quiz. My mom has started cooking dinner in the kitchen and my brother is nowhere to be found—probably took this as the perfect excuse to get his “tenth glass of water” or something.
It’s a lazy, warm afternoon anyway, so I’m staring out the open window more than I am at my textbook.
But hold up. Is that plane outside flying really low? Oh God, it probably doesn’t have pilots because they’ve been raptured and the plane is gonna crash!
Cue the panic.
Momma, I got left behind!
Scenario 3
I’m twenty-one years old and randomly walking through the room I share with a roommate. I’m getting something from my side of the room and happen to glance at my roommate’s bed. It’s not more messy than usual, but what’s that on the floor?
It’s a set of his clothes—a t-shirt, shorts, and boxers randomly tossed together on the floor.
Damn, is he just messy or did I get left behind??
Recap
If you couldn’t tell already, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, authors of the book series Left Behind, have a lot to answer to.
A quick summary of the books, in case you’re unfamiliar: Left Behind is a Christian novel series about the end times, where all Christians (and babies) have been raptured/gone to heaven, a seven-year tribulation period starts, the Antichrist appears, lots of bad things happen, and Jesus come back and kicks tail in the end.
These books became really popular in Christian Evangelical homes in the late 90s–early 2000s, as there was a lot of fear/excitement around the idea of the rapture, end times, and the Church’s interpretation of the mysteries in Revelation. Also, it was the turn of the century, and theories were rampant on what would happen when the clock hit midnight.
While I definitely had a few terrifying moments—followed by immediate repentance in an attempt to make it up yonder with the rest of the saints—as a result of reading this series, I still read them every once in a while, childhood fears be damned.
P.S. How about them Frank Peretti books too, eh? IYKYK.
Jesse Kinyua graduated in 2024 with a major in org. communication (don’t bother asking what it is, he also doesn’t know). Born and raised in Kenya, Jesse is currently working at a non-profit in Grand Rapids, where he gets paid to read as many books as he can in eight hours (not really, but wouldn’t that be awesome!). If he’s not at work, he’s probably listening to trash podcasts, attempting to burn down a kitchen, or engaging in his favorite pastime, people-watching.
