Ben and I came across the border at Niagra Falls today. The border patrol officer took our passports, thumbed through them and asked us what we’d been doing in Canada.
Ben told him I’d been speaking at a conference, chuckled, and then told the officer he’d only come along to make sure I got where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there. The officer chuckled back, leaned in to get a better look at me, and asked what I was speaking about.
“I was speaking on behalf of Compassion International,” I said.
“What were you speaking about?” he asked.
“Oh,” I said, “uhhh, I was talking about what the bible says about poverty.”
Looking up from our passports, showing the first signs of actual interest, he asked, “Well, what does the bible say about poverty?”
“Uhhh, it says when we lend to the poor we lend to God?” I paused, hoping that was enough.
He raised his eyebrows and cocked his head slightly as if to say aaaand?
“Aaaaand we should take only our daily bread and give the rest to the poor?” I said.
“We’re supposed to share right?” he said, leading the witness.
“Yessir. That’s right.”
He stood, backed up, stared out over the top of our rental and into the distance thoughtfully. Then he stooped down, leaned in close.
“What do you think about socialism?”
“Um, I’m not for it?” I said.
“Taking money from me to share with somebody else is called stealing right?” he asked. “What does the bible say about socialism?”
I was pretty sure these were rhetorical questions. I was right. He asked another.
“Do you think that’s where the present administration is taking this country?” He paused this time waiting for an answer. I imagined a taser in his back pocket, a pair of rubber gloves in another and an interrogation room nearby complete with a generator and jumper cables.
Think, dangit. Think.
“Um, I don’t know enough to say,” I said.
“Well that is exactly where the present administration is taking us…Alright. You guys have a safe trip home.”
We passed.
Thank you?
Vicki Small says:
Wow. “Always be ready with an answer for the hope that is in you” can be extrapolated for border questions!
Actually, he could find passages of scripture that certainly seem to support socialism, but there’s always that part that says he who doesn’t work, doesn’t eat. And the thief should work with his hands…. Think I’ll stop there!
Thomas says:
I am now extremely happy with the hard work our border guards are doing. I can sleep more soundly since they are asking these sort of questions because they will certainly help him find the bad guys and prevent them from entering our country.
jd says:
Oh Shaun, I was hoping they’d keep you here!! I’m a Compassion Advocate, and we’d love to have a Canadian Shaun Grove starting up Blogger trips here! ๐
Where were you speaking? I hope you enjoyed your stay in Canada… it was nice to have you here, at least for a little while!
Congrats on passing the exam, LOL!
Molly says:
wow.
not sure I would enjoy a border guard getting all political on me… whether I agreed with him or not.
wow.
Laura @ Texas in Africa says:
Your tax dollars at work.
Seriously, that’s completely against every regulation that governs how a border patrol agent is supposed to behave while on the job. Of course this guy is a citizen and gets to have opinions in his private life, but similarly to the way a soldier isn’t supposed to express opinions on the job or challenge the decisions of the civilian authorities, this agent undermines his mission by engaging in political discussions.
Krissy says:
Wow. Must never ever ever let my mother cross the border into Canada. They would never let her back in.
Mama Bean says:
Fun story ๐ Glad he let you go back home! But it would be neat to keep you up here a little while, too…
lillysue says:
I’m surprised he didn’t check the car trunk – the socialist boogieman could have been hiding there. He’s been turning up in some unexpected places lately.
Princess Leia says:
Ha! Well, personally I think the difference between Biblical sharing w/the poor and socialism is that the first is done voluntarily (due to religious belief, but still voluntarily) while the second is required by the state, with the funds going to whatever the state deems appropriate.
But certainly not a conversation you’d expect to have crossing the border from Canada!
Vicki Small says:
Princess Leia – for the record, I fully agree with you re: Biblical sharing. My pathetically obscure point was that one can find scripture verses or passages to support almost anything (key word: almost).
Jason says:
I know that some will want to mock this guy for what he did to you but I’m thankful I’m in a country that gives him the freedom to act like a jerk if he feels like it. ๐
At least the guy has passion about something. Too many people just don’t give a darn about anything these days.
Brad Ruggles says:
lol…that’s awesome! I’ve had some interesting grillings at the Canadian border before but none like that!
Ann [email protected] Experience says:
And we Canadians thank you for your stay in friendly Canada… and for your blazing Jesus words that kindle hearts — and border guards — wherever you go.
You amaze.
And testify to Him who amazes and dwells with the least of these– Who then are the Greatest….
Grateful for you…
Ann
brandiandboys says:
what a story, shaun! made me laugh out loud! too funny.
CardsFan says:
I assume the officer was against socialism – but at least he felt free to express his opinion regardless of vocation.
I have to disagree with the compartmentalization of beliefs advocated by Laura. If I understand her opinion correctly, we must check our beliefs at the door if we accept a government position? Doesn’t that inherently remove Christians from discussing ideology in the public square? And if it does, then aren’t we consequentially becoming less democratic by not allowing Christians’ opinions to be discussed in public?
We must be certain to know and learn from history. Our culture is quickly forgetting that certain soldiers (Nazis) defended their own atrocious actions by claiming they were simply following orders from governmental authorities. They checked their beliefs at the door, and millions suffered as a result. When Christians compartmentalize the sacred from the secular, then culture is left with only the secular.
Joyce says:
Maybe he really was just curious about your thoughts. You mentioned sharing what we have and his mind leapt to socialism. You were thinking more along the lines of people giving from the heart and he was thinking govt. taking and giving as they see fit.
I lived overseas and we were often asked random questions about our life at various border crossings based on our travels, time of year (holidays generally), our voting habits and how the moon hung in the sky. I lived in the UK when Bush was elected and was asked at least once a week by perfect strangers if I voted for him. I don’t ask people I know well who they voted for.
I think if he hadn’t let you cross then maybe it would be a different story but it seems he did want to know what you think. Because you said you were speaking on what the bible says about poverty he figured you were someone who would have an opinion.
Glad you made it home : )
Josh says:
Glad you weren’t tased and that you didn’t get a date with Officer Rubber Gloves….yikes.
hilarious.