I wonder what Martin Luther King would think of today’s America.
Where an African American was elected president.
Where African Americans can pursue the American Dream.
Where little black boys and black girls are able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
What would Dr. King say?
“But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold. Which leads into the palace of justice.
In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy, which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people. For many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low. The rough places will be made plain. And the crooked places will be made straight. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. And all flesh shall see it together.
We will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children— black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual.
Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty! We are free at last!”
America, we need to change the narrative. Only in Christ can we be one.
This is what God says. The God who builds a road right through the ocean. Who carves a path through pounding waves. The God who summons horses and chariots and armies. They lie down and then can’t get up. They’re snuffed out like so many candles.
“Forget about what’s happened. Don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert. Be present.
I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’ —the coyotes and the buzzards. Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun baked earth.
Drinking water for the people I chose. The people I made especially for myself. A people custom-made to praise me.” Isaiah 43:18-21 The Message
You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with His label on it.
All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ. Everyone is included in Christ.
So, chosen by God for this new life of love. Dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you— compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.
Let the Word of Christ— the Message have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives— words, actions, whatever be done in the name of the Master, Jesus.
Thanking God the Father every step of the way. Colossians 3:11-15 The Message
“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty! We are free at last!”
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