Listen to Dr. King’s Speech, this day, April 3, 1968;
“I Have Been to the Mountaintop” here
From April 3rd eChimes:
From Pastor Ray…
As I write this, we are just receiving word of another shooting in a workplace at YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California. Our prayers and our thoughts and our commitment to end the conditions that lead others to be able to use guns as solutions to their problems – are steadfast. It may not be known what that will take, but living into the uncertainty of what the changes will need to be is not a reason to retreat from the pursuit of ending this violent sickness of heart and mind. We, Easter People and faithful people of many different traditions, know what it is to live into the uncertainty of what needs to be done, because we know we are loved.
Wednesday, April 4th, marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In Sunday’s bulletin, I used an opening quote of Dr. King’s that I will repeat here:
“Nonviolence is absolute commitment to the way of love.
Love is not emotional bash; it is not empty sentimentalism.
It is the active outpouring of one’s whole being into the being of another.”
When we speak of love, it is not the “emotional bash” or “sentimentalism” as Dr. King reminds us. It is ultimately all that there is in all lives, whether they have strayed away or lost their way. There are rules and laws and behavioral modifications of all measures and weights, but the ultimate determinant of life is love. Every bit of it that we practice, every “active outpouring of one’s whole being into the being of another” changes everything, whether we see it or not; whether it be big or small. No matter what. And, that is not easy.
Whatever we may find under attack in our lives or societies, we cannot allow love to fall victim, whether in a corporate headquarters or on the balcony of a hotel room or the classrooms of a high school. If we give up love, we have given up our soul.
If you have time, listen once againto Dr. King’s Memphis speech of 50 years ago today. He says all this much better than I.
Let someone know you love them; let’s think of ways to show our love for others in addition to all we do; and let’s get the word out with an invitation to join us to all those we meet. As cynical as some might be, I truly believe that deep inside they are waiting for the expression of love that rings true. I hope they find us sooner than later, because it is here. It’s been here for a long time.
Share the love; make the call…remember. Please.
Love,
Ray