Just Call Me Chauffer

It was a weird weekend. I had volunteered to help with transportation at the Wild Goose Festival, held right up the road from me in north Carolina.

What’s the Wild Goose Festival”? I’ll steal the description fro, the website. I don’t think they’ll mind.

“Wild Goose Festival is a transformational community grounded in faith-inspired social justice. Wherever we come together –  at our nationwide festival, smaller local and regional gatherings, or online spaces – we learn and grow by co-creating art, music, story, theater, and spectacle, engaging in a wide variety of robust, courageous conversations with each other and with thought leaders and artists from other communities.”

Then let me add this part.

“We are rooted in progressive christianity. For us this means moving beyond belief to center ourselves in justice and compassion, to walk toward those in need and to solidarity with the marginalized and the oppressed, acknowledging our own privilege and actively working to use our power to alleviate suffering and achieve wholeness, and striving to create a world that works for all.”

I was raised in very conservative churches, and continued in them well into my adult years. Thankfully I was born to parents who encouraged us to think for ourselves. I was never told a pastor’s opinion about God was “better” than mine. That meant from an early age I sat in church thinking, “ I agree with that” or “Ohhhh, I think they’re wrong about that.”

I’ve always been open about my faith, even when it’s unpopular to admit to being a Christian. When sonething is the center of who you are, how can you hide that?

I’ve also been a huge advocate of truthfulness and a critic when the church encourages people to hide who they are. I am against people trying to be the Holy Spirit – believing it’s their job to convict or change people. (If that’s you, I can report once you give that up you’ll truly feel the freedom of Christ. Plus, you’ve got work to do on you.)

The best gift God has given us, in my mind, is freedom to choose the path we follow. I don’t believe in cookie-cutter Christians. I believe the world is big and diverse and so is our charge from God.

But anyway, that’s not really what I planned to talk about. It’s more of an explanation of why Wild Goose excites me. I love thinkers. I love diversity. I love when people care about creating a world where we all can thrive.

That’s why volunteering to help with transportation was a great idea for me. The nearest airport is around an hour away. I figured anyone I drove would be interesting and I’d have them captive for an hour.

I was so right. I picked up people who were national thought leaders on issues like immigration, racism, inclusiveness, and climate change. They are authors, singers, poets, and academics. All were people of faith – but not just Christianity. One was active in the Muslim community.

Because of some family commitments (including the funeral of my cousin’s wife), I only got a quick time at the actual festival. I was at worship on Sunday, but even had to leave that early so I could take someone else to the airport. Once again, giving up one good time for another.

I loved being chauffer. Even when my car was backed into in a gas station parking lot. It wasn’t my fault, but the guy who hit me escaped before the police officer got there. He wasn’t a deadbeat – he first gave me all his information and his phone number and said he had to go to work. Yes, today’s agenda required me to call and report it to the insurance company.

But that’s just a blemished car. No one was hurt and we are insured.

The conversations were great and challenging. One that particularly stood out was with a woman who works with immigration. She talked about peaceful deportation protests where they pray out loud for ICE officers and lay white roses at their feet. She said their planning was how to protest (even if it required they break the law) to keep God’s law – and for that to be bringing peace and love to the situation. How can we do that in our lives?

One thing about thought leaders – they challenge you in most situations. I typically am convicted to love more, to live better – and not to hide from reality.

I was told of a woman who had lived in the US for over 30 years. Her children and grandchildren are US citizens. She was not because of the circumstances when she first arrived here. She was smart and hard-working and kind. The type of person who makes our country better. She was recently deported. Oh, every box had not been checked, but hadn’t she shown who she was during her time here? Shouldn’t we say, “We love having someone like you live here – let us help make that happen.”

A friend of mine has recently applied for citizenship. He had lived here for a lot of years. Always legally – helped by the company for whom he worked. He has done the citizenship interview and passed the oral test. It wasn’t too difficult, but I suspect many people born here don’t know the answers. He’ll probably get his citizenship. But what if he doesn’t? I can’t imagine. He is my friend – and he and his wife are a large part of my life.

Christians should extend to others what God has extended to us. Mercy. Grace. Love. Welcome. Even if they weren’t born up the road, have a different color skin, a different religious view, or haven’t followed all the rules we think they should.

I try to do this. I try to learn their stories. To know and be known – it’s so much easier if we believe we are one community. It’s way easier if we get to know them.

My car is here. Do you need a ride? We can talk. You probably have thoughts that need to be shared, too.

Or just make plans to check out the Goose next year.