Author Gregory L. Booth was nearly five years old when he first spoke to God. He admits that he didn’t quite listen to God that day at his home in Pendleton, Oregon. In this memoir, Booth narrates the story of his life against the constant battle of the opposing forces of good and evil—between God and Satan. 

 

Using the Bible as a guide, Five Years Old and I Gotta Know discusses Booth’s tribulations and trials, as well as the role God played throughout both the good and the bad times. Including tales from his youth in Pendleton, his service in the US Navy, his marriages, his work world, and his being saved in March of 1971, Booth describes God’s saving grace in his life.

 

Five Years Old and I Gotta Know communicates a message of hope for all: when life is taking some wrong turns, God is still on our side and is seeking a personal relationship.

My story really begins in probably May of my fourth year. I was an investigator whose little legs carried me every direction that my mom would let me go and often where she didn’t.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;           This first day of my story, it started just off the back steps on the sidewalk behind the house I grew up in. Oh! Yes; I guess I had better mention this aspect of my life at the time. I liked the other kids in the neighborhood well enough and would play with them, but only for short periods of time; because I needed to find out how things worked; and that is where I spent most of my time; that was what I sought out for fun.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          Now back to the sidewalk at the back of the house. Today was unusual because I was looking to play; (well!) at least for a while. But as I stood there listening I couldn’t hear any other kids playing in my neighborhood. What a strange thing! Always there was noise from my generation. Because of the normal screams and yelling the kids my age did every day of the week. My next older brother was five and a half years my senior and you could always tell which part of the neighborhood they were at. But today was quiet and no sounds to be heard anywhere.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          The only noise I could here was coming from my mother. Who was cleaning the flower bed next to the little cottage behind our house? I wanted to play so bad that day and not hearing any kids. I asked my mom if she would play with me. But her answer was she needed to get her flowers planted. So I guess I was out of luck. I stood there for some time and remembering how my mother would tell me, “I should always behave;” because God was watching and he would tell her. Then I would be in trouble.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;           Knowing God hears things and that he would tell my mom. I thought if he talked to her. He could talk to me also. So I looked up at the sky between two trees in the back yard. Sort of up and to my right and said God can you come and play with me as no one seems to be around.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          To my surprise I got an answer. The answer was almost like my mother’s answer in that God said I can’t come right now it isn’t time. I still need to get some things done. So I ask if he had time to talk for a while, he said yes.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;             Well I asked I’m sure many things.  Being in God’s presence was very enjoyable. After a while my mother said to me who are you talking to? So I told her and she didn’t say anything just kept working. My conversation with God got interrupted after a while. It seems some of the (neighborhood) kids were playing in the hedge across the street at my aunt’s house.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          Well! They interrupted my talk with God by asking me to come over and see what they were doing. So I said to them I’m talking to God. I would come later.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          As I continued to talk to God, God said don’t go over there. So I knew right away something must be wrong. I said to God if there is something wrong. Maybe I should go and put a stop to it before things get out of hand. God said I wouldn’t go if I were you.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          So I just stayed and talked with God some more. All the while the kid’s keep calling me. So finally I said to God if you go with me I wouldn’t have to worry; because you can stop anything that is wrong; because you are God.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          Well! God said to me if you go over there I can’t be with you any longer. And at that point God quit speaking to me.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          I decided to answer the call. I was prepared to have conflict. As I strutted across the street I was confident God would not let me down. I knew inside that he cared for me. And also that he didn’t want those kids in trouble either.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          I reached the fence and climbed over; where there was a small space between the hedge bushes. Just on the other side I found my friends. Immediately I could see why God didn’t want me to go over there. I guess as they were playing earlier. Someone brought up the differences in how a person used the toilet. Well to prove who was right. My peers had exposed themselves and where comparing the differences in plumbing fixtures. Well as I came over the fence. And saw what was happening. I lit into them right off. Telling them God knew that they were up to no good and had better stop.

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          I did this with all the swagger and toughness I could muster. All three were willing to fight but somehow talk was in order.  

< p > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          They began to explain why and what they were doing. And that no one had to know they did it. That if I wanted to fight. It would be three against one. But I shouldn’t be worried they just wanted to know the differences in how to use the toilet.

Gregory L. Booth spent twenty years as a general contractor. He was saved in March of 1971 and has been involved in a chapter of Business Men’s Fellowship, where he has served in a variety of positions. This is his debut book; he currently lives in Pendleton, Oregon.