Turkey Track

My An Arkie's Faith column from the October 12, 2022, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

For many years, whenever I traveled to Russellville, Jasper, Harrison, or Branson, I would pass by a large open field with what looked like hundreds of RV camping spaces on Hwy 250. There was a small sign that said Turkey Track Bluegrass music. I wondered why it was there and why I never saw anyone there. 

One day a couple of years ago, I saw a flyer advertising the Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival. I thought that it sounded interesting. I love music, but I had never attended a bluegrass festival. The timing didn't work out, so I couldn't attend the festival. Each year, in the back of my mind, I thought about attending the festival, but it never seemed to happen.

I decided that I would try to go to Turkey Track this year. A few days ago, a Facebook post on my phone showed that Rhonda Vincent would be playing at Turkey Track. I had heard her play at Silver Dollar City in the 80s and followed her career. I called my cousin, who likes bluegrass, and asked him if he would like to go. He said that he would, and we made plans to attend.

I tried to find information about the festival and when Rhonda Vincent would be playing, but I had a hard time. I couldn't find any information on the internet. I finally found a phone number and found out who the performers would be, and the times they would be playing. I arranged my work schedule to leave an hour early and make it to the evening concert on time.

As my cousin and I drove past the Turkey Track venue, we saw hundreds of RVs sprawled out over the countryside. We were amazed by the number of people at the festival. I learned that Turkey Track Bluegrass Park puts on one of the largest bluegrass festivals west of the Mississippi. The festival has been held there for the last 45 years.

We parked and asked for directions to the stage. After finding a place to set our camping chairs, we checked out the craft booths and the food trucks. We settled on a healthy supper of pizza, grilled cheese, kettle corn, and soft-serve ice cream. Soon the evening concert started, with the Roving Gambler Band playing their brand of infectious bluegrass music. Their fun-loving and lighthearted approach to performing kept the audience entertained and laughing.

Walter Schook, the lead singer and guitarist, started the Roving Gambler Band over 30 years ago with friends devoted to the idea that Bluegrass Music should be fun! The infectious laughter and great music were a great way to start the evening. Christine Talley played the upright bass and was a crowd favorite when she sang. Her banter with Walter, the band leader, kept the crowd in stitches.

Next up was SpringStreet. Their musicianship was amazing and featured wonderful vocal harmonies. They started in 1990 when founding members Mike Williams and Steve Carroll went to Eureka Springs to see Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music, perform. They decided to start a band and decided on the name SpringStreet because that was the name of the street next to the auditorium where they heard Bill Monroe. Twenty years later, the band has developed its own sound with a combination of bluegrass, gospel, folk, and country, served up bluegrass style.

As talented as the Roving Gambler Band and SpringStreet were, when Rhonda Vincent took the stage she had the audience in the palm of her hand. It was amazing to be sitting in the Arkansas countryside, miles from anything, and listening to an artist who has won seven female vocalist of the year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association. After listening to great songs like All American Bluegrass Girl and Rhonda's beautiful tribute to Loretta Lynn, Blue Kentucky Girl, she sang a song that was a change of pace and had a message that hit home. 

Her voice rang out over the Arkansas countryside, and her band joined in with backing vocals as they sang, "There are many people who will say they're Christians. And they live like Christians on the Sabbath day. But come Monday morning, till the coming Sunday, they will fight their neighbor all along the way." Then a deep male bass voice sang, "Oh, you don't love God," and Rhonda responded, "If you don't love your neighbor. If you gossip about him, if you never have mercy, if he gets into trouble, and you don't try to help him. Then you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love God."

The song teaches an essential Biblical truth that has been lost in today's Christian culture. In 1 John 4:7,8 (KJV), The Apostle John tells us, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." 

In Luke chapter ten, there is a story of a religious expert who tries to trick Jesus. He asked, "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" The man answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5 (NCV) And then he added a passage in Leviticus 19:18 (NCV), and "love your neighbor as you love yourself."

Then Jesus said, "Your answer is right." "' Ah,' said the lawyer, wanting to win the point, 'but who is my neighbor?'" Luke 10:29 (NTE): Often, we as Christians are like the lawyer, trying to find a loophole that doesn't require us to love others. We want to define our neighbor as the person next door who believes the same way we do. But even if we want to narrow the definition of who our neighbor is, Jesus tells us, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemies.' But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you." Matthew 5:43 (NCV)

Gentle Reader, God hasn't asked us only to love those who are similar to us or with whom we are comfortable. We love people by genuinely seeking what is best for them. Loving others does not mean agreeing with everything they say or do, nor does it mean acting in ways that always gain their approval. Loving our neighbors means attending to their needs—both physical and spiritual. As the song says, "you don't love God if you don't love your neighbor."