Dear Inner Circle,
We made quite the sight. In front of a movie theatre fully awash in celebrities, fake tans and not a consumed calorie in sight, our van-load sputtered and screeched to halt. We spilled out and joined the queue. It was just in time for the speeches to start and even the birds jostled to catch a glimpse of the stars on display. When they concluded, the main character looked over to us and waived our group over to him. David Wenham, one of Wayside’s long-term ambassadors, embraced our motley crew and posed for photos with us.
For a moment, our group felt like movie stars thrust into the middle of the limelight. I urge you to go to the theatre and catch Spit while you can, it is a great Australian movie. Our guys loved it, and provided just about the best “director’s commentary” a movie has ever received. Our mob chatted eagerly, ate popcorn and choc tops too loudly, snored, broke wind and guffawed together. Acts of joy really are only possible when there is a temporary suspension of the self-conscious mind. That’s why kids can laugh till they cannot breathe, remember doing that?
What beautiful memories the exceptional Mr. Wenham created for our people, his extended hand opening inaccessible doors through a move that could only be made from his side of the velvet rope. Some in the crowd only saw the inconvenience, but for those who had the eyes to see, they witnessed an intimate gesture of incredible respect, a powerful movement from exclusion to embrace. A metaphor not only for the movie, but for life itself.
As we head into another round of elections, conversations often move towards leadership, and we look to our candidates for it. Last week a few hundred people gathered in Paddington at the invitation of Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group to discuss mental health and wellbeing for all.
Right at the end, the microphone was passed to an elder. She looked weary after a lifetime of battles for justice and could no longer stand. Yet there was nothing frail about her. She addressed the room, asking everyone present to think deeply about the significance of the Welcome to Country. In her powerful words she urged us all, “This isn’t about ownership, it is about relationship and custodianship. If you accept custodianship then accept the responsibility for caring for all life within your boundaries, you don’t get to choose which life you care for, it has to be for all.” We all fell silent in the face of such a leader.
That’s the lens though which I will be listening to those who are asking to be our leaders.
Thank you for being part of the Inner Circle,
Jon
Rev. Jon Owen
CEO & Pastor
Wayside Chapel
