A Father's Privilege

I was once charged with inciting a riot and resisting arrest.

For those of you who know me well, this should come as no surprise. However, what may interest you is that I was completely innocent.

Well, mostly.

I became a Christian in late '71. It was a night to day experience for me. When I struggled with my decision regarding the message of Jesus Christ (and I did struggle), I realized that "fire insurance Christianity" was not going to be an option. I knew this was going to be an all or nothing experience for me.

Soon after becoming a believer, I began to sing and play guitar with Gary Hanson and talk about our faith with other young people. Imagine a combination of Simon and Garfunkel, The Gamble Folk and Larry Norman. We played in churches, coffee houses and city parks. It was an incredible experience for two young men out to change the world.

I should add that this was before the term "Contemporary Christian Music" had come into usage. In those days, it was simply called "sin," and many Christians let us know their rather direct opinions about it. Without a doubt, this was also a good experience for a young Christian man.

In 1972, our mutual friend, Joe Swenson, invited us to come to northern Minnesota to play a concert. We would sing, and the place kicker for the Minnesota Vikings, Fred Cox, was going to speak. This was heady stuff. We had hit the big time.

My father decided to come with us on the road trip. This was also great. Before I was a Christian, Morgan and I had experienced a few bumps in our relationship... with me doing all the bumping. Now, we were beginning to build bridges back to each other. It was great to have him along and share in some of our new-found passion.

Driving into Cass Lake County, I was completely ignorant of the fact that the American Indian Movement (AIM) was engaging in activity that had made the local law enforcement officers very nervous. I should also mention that I drove into Cass Lake County with our sound equipment; my long, straight, dark hair (a pleasant memory); accompanied by Gary's thick hair. Morgan was slumped over sleeping.

Gary may have been the first one to notice the sheriff's car behind us with its lights on. I knew I wasn't speeding. As I pulled over to the gravel shoulder I wasn't too concerned. After all, we were on a mission for God!

Unfortunately, the law enforcement officers did not have that same understanding.

I won't go into all the details except to say that more than one gun was drawn before the whole experience was over... and we didn't have any of them on our side! I also ended up with a date in court.

A few months later, when I stood with Morgan before the judge in the county seat of Wabasha, we weren't sure what was going to happen. We were both surprised to find out that I was charged with resisting arrest. That is very hard to do when you haven't even been arrested!

Long and short: the case was dismissed. Morgan and I went to the Dairy Queen.

Years later, I asked my father if had been nervous about going to court with me. He replied, "Yes. We didn't know what they were going to do with you that time." I followed up with a question to which I thought I knew the answer. Morgan's reply changed my whole perspective of fatherhood. "Were you embarrassed to have to stand in front of that judge with me?"

"No. Every father should have the privilege of standing by his son when he is in trouble."

Excuse me. Every father should have what kind of privilege?

I have gotten into a lot more trouble in life than minor misunderstandings with over-zealous sheriff's deputies. Somehow it has always been a great comfort to know that I had a father willing to stand with me... no matter what kind of situation I had gotten myself into.

He hasn't let me down yet.