Profane and the Sacred

Something about one of my recent posts (Dec 7) seems not quite done yet! It's the one about that thoughtful conversation with fellow truckers in a repair shop and then the surprise death of one of them, and how it affected all of us.  It was a sacred event right in a workaday sometimes profane environment. The responses to that post, both from the truckers and from my present day fellow retirees affirmed the theme of good faith (or religious) experiences in surprising places, even affirming my sub theme that many times the wilderness - the tough environment - provides even better spiritual encounters than the churchy environment.

I like what I wrote, but perhaps it was only half the story.  So ... these next paragraphs are but some thinking, musing.  Thank you for reading along with me during these Corona days. 😊  Indeed there is more to it than that.  That earlier post certainly was not intended as a decertification of the many professionals including myself who have become theologically educated, many now serving in colleges, seminaries, and churches with much thoughtfulness and commitment. I have been reading their stuff all the time even during my two million miles of long haul trucking mental health break from the rigors of that profession.  I envy and respect those scholars and clergy who write articles and books.  My main point; God's world is beyond the labels and the professions we line ourselves up with..   

For starters I shall simply post title the other way.  Rather than "Sacred and the Profane" as in previous, why not "Profane and the Sacred" this time?  And, yes I cannot but begin with another trucker sample. It was a short-term job, this one, just prior to beginning a semester of clinical study after I had served 10 enjoyable years as pastor of a church in Edmonton.  I was driving double with a partner, regular route Edmonton to Yellowknife and back. We got along good, the two of us, me already the ordained preacher and he a fine christian friend. We considered ourselves fortunate, a fine team.  "You're so lucky." he says one day.  "Sure," says I, "But why you say that?"  "Because," says he, "You can talk with people about life and faith and stuff so easy without it getting awkward.  It's because you're a preacher, and they know it. Me, I'm just a Christian, and they treat me like a religious freak or something."  Well, I thanked him for his humble eye-opening perspective. Good information indeed from my trucker buddy.

Self awareness is important.  Me being a preacher in a truckers world has given ample illustration. The occasions simply present themselves when the 'religious' is asked for, either out of confusion or pain or occasionally obligation.  To speak with someone who is comfortable on subject is a good thing.  I am one of those, always appreciate full on straight-shooting questions about absolutely anything.   It is so much preferable to all kinds of tire-kicking insinuations, cat and mouse games, etc.  This was fascinatingly confirmed not long after the above conversation. That following year of training was a Residency in Pastoral Care and Counseling in a large hospital.  In one of the teaching sessions our supervisor impressed on us that professional identity is indeed important. "Your professional identity needs to be clear, so you can be accessed by others." Just being a nice person is not enough. "You've got to be comfortable with that," said Dr Bill Schmidt, "And as a clergy you are a representative of God".  

Indeed. Indeed. Not THE representative, but in many situations a representative!  And sometimes your professional identity may get used for whatever purposes at hand - well beyond your choosing.  "That is beyond your control.  But as a clergy you need to be able to walk the hallways and the hospital units confident enough with yourself to do the chaplain job."  Wise words sir.

Good wisdom this was for my further years of pastoring, and ironically also into yet another considerably longer stint of trucking which followed in a later chapter of my life. Without one iota of effort I was dubbed "Preacher Man" in the CB lingo of the interstates, the hiways and biways of Canada and the U.S.  This identity came up in weird and sometime hilarious occasions.  I recall one when my truck broke down (No double driving these latter years. Single operator).  This was one last run just before Christmas. Heading southbound towards Texas, my truck quit just before Casper, WY. Electronic sensors do that nowadays.  Big problem, needed brand new radiator, and it was Friday late afternoon just before the weekend. Frantic communiques, telephone calls; emergency override buttons, soon my dispatcher with relief says, "Gary (our boss) is on the phone now talking to somebody. He'll figure something out." Short version of this story.  Instructions suddenly. Drop trailer at a certain nearby dealership. Parts will be delivered to a small repair shop who will work overtime after hours to repair truck. When I arrived at designated small shop they were waiting for me, a pickup truck was idling ready for me to drive to nearby truckstop so I could have dinner, and they would call me when truck was repaired!! Courtesy, respect, humor. Three hours later my cell phone rang. Truck ready to go! I could hardly believe my ears. The ace up the boss's sleeve? As it was told to me, he had told them this trucker is a preacher, and he's gotta get home for Christmas, he's got responsibilities, and "I don't care what it costs  me. Just fix the damn thing!" 😏 Well, dear old Gary had not only stretched the truth a bit, but also used an ace that works in the workaday (Profane?) world. You gotta respect the religious guy! This uneducated wealthy businessman utilized Preacher Man for his and everybody else's benefit. 

There are times and there are occasions when things are in fact surprisingly beyond our control, and as just illustrated, sometimes others may offer their interpretation of you or even who you are.  Obviously this is also an argument for living one's life honorably, because you never know who -?-  may be watching.  Do not turn yourself inside out explaining or denying something that once was you or that you wish for, but this is us now. My truckers world knew that I was a preacher, but also that I struggled with depression (as do many of them) and therefor trucking, for the time being, was a more healthy vocational choice for me.  If I could live with that "thorn in the flesh" as the Apostle Paul calls it (2 Corinthians 12:6-7), so could they. 

Obviously, because of my considerable alternative career choices in the transportation industry, I have an expansive view of this whole topic. Sacred has appeared in the profane. And the profane has encountered the sacred.  

And finally, in conclusion, a bit of definition may be in order.  First according to Google: Profane: Adjective  relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious. "a talk that tackled topics both sacred and profane."

Then Wikipedia, from sociologist Emile Durkheim: Profane: involves mundane individual concerns .... The sacred-profane dichotomy is not equivalent to good/evil, as the sacred could be either good or evil, and the profane could be either as well.  

I trust it's quite clear now.  In both these posts, profane is not profanity - not just a bunch of swear words!  And finally, once again my deference to almighty God, “Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1 RSV).