Knock Knock: A Fallible Human Being Is Gonna Knock Up on Your Door

[DISCLAIMER]

In the above photo, intentionally not edited so that I could authentically present a moment of imperfection (the quality or state of being imperfect—fallible, such as flawed in form, structure, or function), as a teenager, I knocked upon the hotel door of a female adolescent.

For clarity, when referring to the physical action of hitting a door to announce one’s presence, the standard phrasing is “knock on a door”. Still, “knock upon a door” is also grammatically correct, though it sounds highly formal or literary.

As well, using urban slang, one may “knock up on” a door, deliberately suggesting a casual approach to gaining attention by knocking on a door. Also, a knock-knock joke is a formulaic joke that begins with the words “Knock knock” in imitation of someone knocking on a door.

“Knock-knock” (with a hyphen) is the standard written form when referring to a knock-knock joke. Unhyphenated (“knock knock”) is mostly used informally to mimic the actual physical sound of knocking. (This bit of context will matter momentarily, as I’ll discuss a hip hop song.)

When attending services at one of the Churches of Christ that sponsored a children’s home in which I lived, I participated in Vacation Bible school (VBS) activities while in Las Vegas, New Mexico. In the above photo, another children’s home boy (“J.O.”) and I knocked on a girl’s door.

Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses—a doctrine up with which I was raised, members of the Churches of Christ were known to knock on doors. We were active in our imperfect attempts to recruit children for VBS activities (e.g., religious-themed puppet shows).

Occasionally, when walking alone through dangerous neighborhoods, J.O. and I would share knock-knock jokes. This is because we were cognizant of the potential for people to reactively slam doors in our faces, so we lightened the axiomatic load with silly humor.

Also, as fallible human beings, teenagers who attended and who were members of the Church were also known to violate rules regarding unauthorized contact with members of the opposite sex. Perhaps the person who took the above photo was gathering evidence of such violation.

When reflecting upon that moment in time, I’m reminded of a hip hop song. On his mixtape K.I.D.S. [Kickin Incredibly Dope Shit] (2010), the late lyricist Mac Miller released the song “Knock Knock” which featured a sample of Linda Scott’s “I’ve Told Every Little Star” (1961).

On the chorus of Miller’s track, he twice states, “One, two, three, four. Some crazy-ass kids gonna knock up on your door! So, let ‘em in! Let ‘em in! Let ‘em in (Hey)!” My favorite song from Miller’s catalog, it’s subjectively humorous when considering how I promoted VBS.

In particular, J.O. was a self-avowed validated member of the Crips. As I’d befriended members of the gang beginning in fifth grade, he and I shared common interests, even if contradictory (involving, causing, or constituting a contradiction).

On one hand, J.O. and I paid homage to the Crips. Although men’s belts are traditionally fed from left to right (counter-clockwise), I wore an extra-long leather belt that hung to the left of my groin area, signally how the Crips favored the left side of the body (i.e., the Crip side).

For adults who maintained ignorance (lack of knowledge, education, or awareness), I merely looked like a well-dressed boy. Similarly, J.O. spoke in code. When identifying one another, Crips used the term “cuz”, spelled with a Z, as J.O. would ask, “You down with the Z’s?”

On the other hand, J.O. and I were actively involved in VBS activities. In particular, Mark 16:15 states, “He [Jesus] said to them [apostles], ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” The purpose of J.O. and I in Las Vegas was to preach the gospel to other children.

Ergo, there was a clear contradiction regarding our behavior, as other Church members could’ve viewed our acts as evil on one hand, and righteous on the other. Thus, some people could’ve claimed that we were crazy (not mentally sound: marked by thought or action that lacks reason).

As such, Miller’s line about “crazy-ass kids” knocking on a door is funny to me. Ultimately, when imperfect people deliver an otherwise helpful message, no one was obligated to “let ‘em in!” When further contemplating this matter, I’m reminded of a book.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

Even though J.O. and I were flawed individuals, we valued our Church of Christ principles (comprehensive and fundamental laws, doctrines, or assumptions)—even if we failed at living up to Christ’s example. Addressing a similar method of living, Seneca stated (page 315):

Some people with exceptional minds quickly grasp virtue, or produce it within themselves. But other dim and lazy types, hindered by bad habits, must have their rusty souls constantly scrubbed down. . . . The weaker sorts will be helped and lifted from their bad opinions if we put them in the care of philosophy’s principles.

I’ve intentionally posted a messy photo for this blogpost. The out-of-focus picture, riddled with dust speckles and scanning streaks, is representative of the “dim and lazy types” of VBS workers who would “knock knock” up on the door of prospective Church members. We were fallible!

Of course, when door-knocking in the relatively dangerous neighborhood of San Jacinto in Bomb City, or when teaching other adolescents in Las Vegas—some of whom were said to have had gang ties—the “rusty souls” of J.O. and I were nominally secure around people like us.

Besides, we may’ve rationalized, we were imperfect followers of Christ; yet, we weren’t the Messiah. Perhaps we believed that it was best to spread word of the gospel while also retaining our rusty edges. Of this view, I now consider that authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 315):

Stoicism is not an evangelical religion. You’re not obligated to save anyone—there’s no risk of hell if a soul remains in ignorance of the teachings of Epictetus or Marcus Aurelius. But now that you’ve learned and studied a better path, you can be of service to others.

You can share your wisdom or insight with a friend or stranger—remembering that behavior is always a better example than a lecture. Everyone deserves to benefit from “philosophy’s principles” as Seneca put it. If you see someone who is in need of help, or has asked for guidance, provide it.

Unlike the days of door-knocking, whereby I’d introduce myself and invite people to VBS in the San Jacinto district, or proverbially knock at the consciousness of people in Las Vegas, I now market my REBT services and Stoic practices through use of my blog and elsewhere.

In a post entitled Parable of the Sower, I stated of this matter, “Unfortunately, not everyone who receives the seed will enjoy fruitful outcomes. Given this truthful admission, I know that friends, acquaintances, clients, and others will have mixed results.” No one is obligated to answer!

Alas, as was the case when spreading word of the gospel, “For many are invited, but few are chosen,” per Matthew 22:14. If I “knock knock” at someone’s axiomatic door, present REBT and Stoicism, and an individual rejects the principles I’m teaching, then too bad!

Maybe I had no business at the person’s door, similar to my presence at a girl’s hotel room door in the photo above. Now, knock knock! A fallible human being is gonna knock up on your door. Will you let him in? If not, that’s okay. Yet, if so, then I look forward to working with you.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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