Neil Oliver Stands with The Odyssey of Our Moment, The Canadian Truckers
In a brilliantly woven monologue [Transcript Here], Neil Oliver weaves the story of our recent humanity against the scale of the universe before returning to a line of lights in Canada that traverses the landscape; what has become known globally as the Freedom Convoy.
Within our current condition, it is good to note our place in this thing we call life, and as Neil Oliver eloquently states, to reflect on the one odyssey that really matters – our connection to each other. WATCH:
…” every once in a while, I envy the jobs of others. All week now I have been wishing with all of my heart that I was a trucker. In Canada. Thundering towards Ottawa. What a grand adventure – so grand I don’t know whether to cheer or cry about it.”… Each of us has the chance and the choice to make an honest stand. I stand with that family on the move, and with those Canadian pilgrims in their trucks.”…
I will not divide my humanity, nor concede my core view of fellowship, simply to comply with the demand of another that I consider my brother or sister of greater or less value than myself. Any business that chooses that path will not benefit from my economic participation. I choose freedom!
Not only are various governmental agencies forcing the separation of people from their community networks, but we are also seeing faith-based organizations, churches, buying into the fear. Even in areas where churches are not forcibly shut down, many are seeing a structural shift where some faith leaders are willingly ostracizing their community under the guise of various COVID alarms. This is not good…. not good at all.
Fellowship is the essential ingredient to a purposeful life. How and why, we interact with each other is how and why we recharge our core humanity. To see faith leaders willing to separate from the function of fellowship is alarming. However, as individuals we must not allow this foreboding sense to become the normal expectation.
Throughout history, large armies have been defeated through the process of division. It is not a leap to see the same strategic objectives being deployed against social assemblies including congregations. It is puzzling how many in leadership cannot see the danger in social and spiritual distance when the bond of fellowship is needed more than ever.
Each of us has a different connection to our community. Each of us has a different level of internal strength… such is the nature of living. However, the distance between people is manifestly not a good outcome when combined with the lack of food for the soul.
Ultimately, it is the currency of human connection that is the true value in our lives.
We have each felt how our positive influence upon the lives of others nourishes our own sense of purpose and fulfillment. Do not lose that. Do not think you can compensate for that through other arbitrary measures? You cannot.
With local, state and federal leaders moving beyond the workplace distance, beyond the community distance, beyond the church distance, and now entering your home to tell you the importance of separating yourself from your family… we must evaluate these arbitrary decrees very deliberately.
Evaluate very closely what we are willing to give up. Perhaps we are in this position today because we didn’t sit still enough and contemplate the real priorities in our lives.
Our liberty is inherent.
Our freedom is inherent.
The removal of both requires consent.
I choose not to disconnect.
I choose purpose.
I choose my own humanity.
We are all truckers now.
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