March on Washington
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the Aug. 28, 1963, march on Washington, D.C. Photo by the United States Marine Corps.
Special to United Methodist Insight
April 4, 1968, on a Southern California asphalt playground with my preteen peers … the word ... the shrill voice of a young boy running across the playground stopped us … immediately … in our tracks …“They killed him, they killed Dr. King , they killed him!”… we all stood there silently as the ball bounced away slowly … as the energy and oxygen of the moment dissipated into the abyss. Darkness seemed to settle over what was just moments ago a hopeful, a joyful celebration of youth. Bear in mind that this tragedy occurred only five years following the assassination of Medgar Evers and President John F. Kennedy; and only three short years after the assassination of Malcolm X. Freedom was under attack again. What were we to think?
Today, 54 years later after working tirelessly to keep “The Dream” alive, countless days and nights of commitment, of love, of doing our collective best to seek freedom, justice, equality and trying to live the righteous life – our land, my beloved, remains a troubled land. We have so much work to do. We have retreated into our tribal divisions – fueled by misinformation, disinformation, hateful discourse, and ignorance. Duty calls us to change the narrative and this social dynamic. Evil triumphs when men of good will do nothing. If not us, then, who? If not now, then when?
Let us, therefore, plant – and replant – if necessary, the seeds of righteousness, forgiveness in God’s glory. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Gal 6:7).
In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and in remembrance of his sacrifice, let us be rejoined together in hope and faith where we …
… Imagine a world where love, honor and humanity predominate.
… Imagine a world where we apply the very best resources that God has given us to eliminate human suffering in every form of its sinful existence.
… Imagine a world where war, hunger, injustice, bigotry, racism, and sexism are no more.
… Imagine the power we generate when love fuels the engine of peaceful world progress.
… Imagine us all working together to change the world – one day at a time.
… Imagine sharing love in all that we say and all that we do … every day.
Just imagine.
Louis Johnson
Louis Johnson
Louis Johnson of Atlanta, Ga., serves as second vice president and prayer advocate for the Southeastern Jurisdiction of United Methodist Men.