Dear Inner Circle,
What do a group of Bundjalung Elders, Bondi Beach, the Russian Mafia, cheap schnitzels and a dingo have a common? The answer could be made into a movie, and the story that connects them sent me into stitches over dinner recently.
As 20 of us sat and shared a meal, the tale of a dingo’s journey from the outback to the beach, passing through a colourful cast of characters, was told in a way only master story-tellers can, weaving in and out of time and place holding the imagination and attention of everyone around our table. I won’t try to relay the adventure here, but it’s definitely one to stop in an hear over a cuppa.
I first met this mob two decades ago when, as a fresh-faced social worker, I volunteered to drive them to and from a conference where they were teaching. One of them called me “Taxi Driver” as we swerved around Melbourne in my trusty, rusty Hi-Ace, sharing fried chicken and laughter as we wound our way up the Dandenongs.
The nickname stuck, as did our friendship. My friend and his mob were in town this week to receive artefacts that were taken from the lands over which they are custodians. The artefacts included remains. He mentioned that there are hundreds of thousands of similar artefacts spread all over the world, still awaiting repatriation. “It’s been far too long, but tomorrow night I will rest well knowing that some of my ancestors will at last rest in their lands, finally at peace in their home.”
Once again, his love and wisdom shone through and reaffirmed what happens here at Wayside where long, winding and sometimes wayward journeys convene.
I see it every day out front as our people pour their lives into others, with no thought or expectation of outcome, only a fragile hope. Perhaps a miracle will occur, perhaps not, but when it does, it is a beautiful thing to witness as people travel to a place of peace they can call home.
As the sun set over the beach during that recent dinner, we were reminiscing about our shared history, and how as the years go on our roles change and grow in our families and communities. My friend reminded me of his lore, “All the teaching and stories and languages we learn, all of it, the whole point of it, is to make us useful to our mob.”
Knowledge shared is wisdom, knowledge hoarded is smartness, and we all know what the world needs more and less of. My friend looked at me as he was driving off, “Don’t worry bruz, no matter where life takes you to, I will always look to you for a lift. Catch ya, my Taxi Driver!”
Thank you for being part of the Inner Circle,
Jon
Rev. Jon Owen
CEO & Pastor
Wayside Chapel
