Spacious, inclusive, and real
Thank you to Studio Ix for featuring me in their April 2021 alumni spotlight—on my work, and in particular how it was changed, deepened, and informed by my participation in the clergy response to Unite the Right in Charlottesville, 2017. Here are two highlights from my interview.
On justice and partisanship:
The combination of the Trump presidency and the events around August 12th made me more aware of problems that had been right in front of my nose for a long time. it was a call into awareness and participation. There is a partisan element, but I don't feel called to run for office or campaign for people. I don't really want to have partisan arguments. I want to be able to influence people towards humanity and human rights and love and kindness and justice.
On sanctuary and calling:
What I experienced on August 12th was a little bit different than the dominant narrative around it. I organized with Congregate Charlottesville and was responsible for helping to create a sanctuary space at First United Methodist Church. So, what I experienced that day was sanctuary in the middle of the violence and chaos and conflict and hatred that were swirling all around. Right in the middle of that hell, there was a space where people were taking care of each other. People across all kinds of difference were taking care of one another in the ways that they needed and that was responsive. It was spacious and inclusive and real.
That was a moment that changed me forever because I realized that such spaces are possible, and I want to be a person who's creating that kind of space. I say that with deep gratitude and appreciation for the folks who showed up to counter protest white supremacy in the streets, people who were resisting in the swirl. The sanctuary part of the story doesn’t get a lot of air time, and I understand why. There is a danger in only seeing the squishy, nice parts of things. We have to be real about all of it. But that was a pivotal moment for me.
It was also a rare moment of clarity in my life where I thought, “I don't know how I ended up here, but this is where I'm supposed to be. I know what to do. I know how to be. I don't feel conflicted. I am just here.” And it was hard. It was very difficult, but also it was really beautiful in an important way.