The King

Today is the anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination. It's weird that we commemorate these days, like going back to the site of a car crash years later. I guess it makes sense- just as much as we like to remember and relive those days that we celebrate- we need to remember and relive those days that make a dent in our minds. I see the loss of MLK almost like a loss of innocence for the American people. Those who weren't in the thick of the race struggles or marches or injustices might have been easily ignorant. Once the voice of a people was suddenly and so sharply silenced- it had to cause an extra glance by the previously ignorant.

I wonder what things I am ignorant about today. I could probably even name them for you- because ignorance isn't just a lack of knowledge, it's a lack of action. We were studying some scripture passages for worship planning the other day- and one of the passages has Jesus saying that those who hear the word and do not act are like those who build their house on sand. Those who hear the word and act are like those who build their houses on stone. What is amazing about this text is not that it is a cool analogy and it makes a lot of sense- but that both groups hear the word. No one misses the message, some just choose to do nothing with it.

I think that was King's message to the white folks and black folks of the day- it isn't that the plight of the poor and downtrodden is a big secret- it's that no one seems to be willing to do anything about it- or even saying anything about it. MLK was special only because he took the risk to act on the Word. He was special in a way that really, anyone could be these days. We may not all become world renown or listed in the history books- but we can act.

The trouble is- in memory of today- it still feels like Jesus got it wrong. Those who act get their house blown down. I think MLK knew that, and still believed. Lord, help my unbelief!