I receive many emails and what not from the United Church of Christ.  Some of them are pleas for my time or money.  I get invited to participate in conferences or events that are far from home. I usually discard much of the information, because, quite frankly, it’s so overwhelming.  It requires me to spend my money or the church’s money on hotels, travel, etc.

Sometime in late April or early May of 2017 I was invited to stand with other clergy because a rally was taking place somewhere down South.  It didn’t really click—I didn’t pay it much mind.   

Many weeks later, in July, I learned there was going to be a real pressure-cooker down in Virginia. There was going to be peaceful protest on Aug 12. UCC clergy were invited to attend and show our support.

I wrestled with this for a brief moment. It was going to be taking place in the same state where I was vacationing- but Virginia is a big state—and I was too lazy to look on a map. 

All I knew was that my wife and I were going to my in-laws favorite resort.  Without the kids, we wouldn’t have to spend time at water-parks. We could go to vineyards and wine tastings.  

On Wednesday, we ventured 20 minutes from our posh mountain home away-from-home, to a beautiful vineyard.  We sat on the deck, overlooking the acres of grapes with a glass of petit verdot and stared at the majesty of the Blue Ridge mountains. It was such a peaceful, serene experience.  The vineyard is in Charlottesville, VA.

Two days later, only 20 minutes away from where I was playing Uno with the family, a riot was erupting outside a church.  Inside of that church were my colleagues.  I struggled with ‘where is my place?’  Should I have been there, trapped inside a church, fearing for my safety, while angry neo-nazis holding torches yelled, “blood + soil?”

I didn’t know what was going to take place on Friday night. I thought the rally would be on Saturday.  I believed that the Friday evening gathering was going to be a simple worship service, praying for strength.  I had no idea that the church would be surrounded and that the police would have to escort the worshippers out the back door to safety.  

So, while playing cards on the final night of my vacation—I was pondering if, in the morning, I should head into town and stand shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues or get in the already packed family van to head home.

I didn’t want to put my family out because this was our day of traveling.  What would happen if I got arrested for civil disobedience?  That really wouldn’t be fair to the family.  Again, this was my thinking Before anyone knew what was going to happen.

Since coming home, I am haunted with the thoughts of a dead counter-protestor. I am horrified with the thought that there are people who are so angry and so racist.

I have deep questions:

How can any white supremacist, alt-right neo Nazi call themselves a Christian? They are not!

How can anyone be outraged that a second string quarterback takes a knee during the National Anthem, but they don’t share that same outrage at the events of Charlottesville? They don’t share the same outrage at the killings of young black men and women?   

How can any of us remain neutral?

Three years later, here we are again.  It never went away. 

Can we remain silent?  Can remain neutral?

Three years later, Charlottesville, Virginia seems like a world away.  

It’s not—it’s only 20 minutes away, and it’s a lot closer to home than you think.