My wife and I were discussing why so many of our friends and neighbors don’t understand why it is that we keep coming down to Williamsburg time and again.  People tend to star at us in unbelief when we tell them that we’ve never been to Busch Gardens and then ask, “What do you do down there then?”  Sadly, I’m not sure that we’ll ever really get to communicate our passion for this place to them – but here’s some thoughts.

First, my wife and I love story.  I can literally lose myself in a good story, and I’m frequently composing tales in my head (a trait which my son seems to share).  To me, history is the ultimate story, because it tells the story which binds us together as one (even if we, rightly, critique actions and attitudes of the past).  The events that took place in Williamsburg in the 1770’s, and the worlds which collided in this place (patriot, loyalist, slave, free, dissenter, and established church) echo through our world.  If we don’t know this story, we can never know who we, as a people, are (both our good and bad).  My wife and I come here to become immersed in this aspect of the American Story – so we can listen and ask questions, and expand both our appreciation and critique of our forebearers.  Two great things I picked up this trip are:

1. Why it’s called the “Bar” exam:  In English courts a rail, called the “Bar of the King/Queen’s justice” separated the “standers-by” from the officers of the court.  Only those licensed as officers of the court were allowed to “pass the bar.”
2. The story of Gowan Pamphlet:  I was privileged to sit in a special hall for patrons of the Williamsburg foundation and spend time in conversation with the man who portrays this remarkable historic personage.  Where else could I be privileged to do something like this?  I’ll actually have some video of this up later in the week.

Look, I feel the need to say that if you don’t find history engaging then you’ve either had teachers who didn’t find it engaging or you’ve been cursed by an educational system that has utterly failed to see story as vital for the human-spirit.  Either way, you’ve been woefully ill-served.  Do yourself a favor, learn how to appreciate our story in a way that it washes over you.  Learn to see how this story resonates in the events of our daily life.  Come down to Williamsburg and become part of the tale that’s told here – talk to the re-enactors, artisans, and interpreters.  You won’t regret it.

Let me also add that I believe this is infinitately more important for those who claim to be part of Christ’s Church to learn the story of our own struggles to be faithful to that high calling, rejoicing with our over-coming and weeping over our failures.  That so many of our seminaries, colleges, and schools are woefully neglegent in passing on our stoy is a sins that must be repented of.