State of Confirmation
Friday, June 1, 2018
On the curb he presented as yet another “dowdy-college-professor” attired for causal Friday; a relaxed elegance in chinos. But, I almost missed him in yesterday morning’s rush hour traffic. You see, the intersection of Constitution Avenue and First Street, Northeast offers the novice driver several challenges to navigating the safe pick up of a requesting passenger. So, as I approached the intersection eastward, I made a call to “Sam” to pinpoint his exact location at the “intersection of chaos and promise.” Traffic was moving at a quick click, so by the time Sam confirmed his location, it made sense to turn right onto First Street (going south), then a sharp left u-turn (going north). It was at that moment that “Sam” said, “I see you.” I was headed in a forward direction, when in the moment I was faced with the nostalgia of where “Sam” stood. In fond reflection, I was reminded of the summer I interned in the hallowed halls of the Russell Senate Office Building (it’s that season again). With one more left turn, I was back on Constitution Avenue (going west). A brief stop, and I had secured the safe pick-up of “Sam”. We greeted each other warmly, and he was the first to acknowledge the challenge of that high-trafficked intersection. He mentions being picked up times before by drivers, with every one an eventual success. I jokingly compared the pick-up to “the chaotic journey of finding one’s purpose in life.” I assume a light went on, because “Sam’s” follow-up question was, “what other work do you do?” I responded that after a career in events and PR, I had settled into the routine of driving Uber after a return from Texas last July. He asked if I enjoyed it. I said very much. And since the door was cracked to a purposeful conversation, I also added that I viewed this work as a ministry of-sorts. I told him of encounters with the joyful and saddened personalities of past passengers, and what is clearly a growing call and need for Americans to express “more care” for each other. He related with a story of his support of a homeless man; how expressions of care are concurrent convictions and joys that touch our hearts deeply. This conversation, I then knew, was going somewhere…
As we make the traffic transition from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue and back to Constitution Avenue, passing the National Gallery of Art East and West Wings, the Canadian Embassy, the mix of government office buildings (on the right) and the majestic museums of the Smithsonian Institution (on the left), “Sam” looked left to the last museum, the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, and said, “I worked on the committee to open that museum.” It is my belief that this museum represents the legacy of so many who put aside cultural and political differences to erect a “crown jewel” of care in the nation’s capitol. Now, wait for it… “Sam” tells me next that he wants to be counted as one of the “good white people” who showed care for all of humanity.
“Sam” then tells me he works in the office of international religious freedoms at the state department. Again, seeing the providence, I exclaimed my surprise that State cares about religious freedoms; but, I would reflect and be reminded later that, just this past Mother’s Day, Shiloh Baptist welcomed Rev. Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook; she the former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedoms. She was phenomenal, and evidence that God does reside at State! The subject of her message was “Give Me What’s Rightfully Mine”... Back to “Sam.” His revelation spurred even a lively discussion on topics ranging from the generational strife of Haitians and Dominicans, the continued plight of all sides of the conflict in Myanmar, and the continued and unfortunate persecution of people of all faiths the whole world over. These were global examples of the need to “spread the care.”
As we approached the drop-off at State, and with the classical music having provided an exceptional soundtrack to conversation, Sam asked if he could pray for me. I thought, “is this Uber regulation?” I looked left and right, then agreed. It was short and sweet. “God, please keep Raymond safe in his travels. We thank you for the time in this car. Amen.”
When I returned home from all the morning’s drive, I did a quick Google of the Office of International Religious Freedoms. God-incidence: this guy “Sam” IS the “Ambassador At-Large” at State representing the United States!
Aloud I thought, “God, you’re funny!”
