Bryan has always been a study in contrasts. When he was little, he couldn’t decide if he wanted to be a devil or an angel for Halloween. A soldier or a clown.

I recently dropped him off to his apartment after a doctor’s appointment to find a messy, but telling display on his dining room table. This wasn’t done to impress mom. He had been working on his latest “book” (see notebook on the right side). Forgot to ask him what it was about! After reading the titles, I have no clue…

On the one hand, there are books about the Bible covering the table. The Detective Mom in me reads the titles and worries that her little guy is still struggling with grief and depression. He spends so much of his day alone. Does he still need healing, forgiveness, to find happiness? Of course, most all of us struggle with those demons on a daily basis. Am I reading too much into this?

Contrast that with the fantasy world of Marvel and Masters of the Universe. And the reality of “Tiger Battalion 507” and “Red Road from Stalingrad “. Oh, and don’t forget the cheery Thanksgiving door decoration he made while in school. ‘Tiger Battalion ‘ is about eyewitness accounts from Hitler’s regiment. “Red Road’ is book of recollections of a soviet infantryman. What the heck?!

Does he actually read these books? Can he comprehend the content? Sounds like pretty heavy stuff to me. If you asked Bryan for a book report, I’m not sure what you’d get. Perhaps he simply likes the titles and the pictures of the books on his table.

Far be it from me to try to judge and make sense of Bryan’s mind. As far as I know, he is at a third grade reading level. Still, maybe that measurement made long ago and far away wasn’t really accurate. When he attends church, it takes him a while, but he always manages to find the scripture lessons in his Bible and the hymns in the hymnal. He knows who the Eagles are playing along with the time and TV station carrying the game. The I-phone is in constant use as he researches numerous topics which pique his interest.

I’m just so grateful that he is able to read enough to get along in this world.

And, so, he sits in his bedroom scrawling a book on the “Fruits of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) under the watchful eyes of the beauties on his Eagles Cheerleaders calendar.

Let’s just say he’s a complex character, full of contrasts. Makes for an interesting personality, don’t you think?