As the years swiftly fly by, it does give me a little bit of guilty pleasure to say that I was not yet born when Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his resounding "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC in 1963. However, within that pleasant, personal feeling of not being "too old" yet, there is a deep sense of sadness that our world, and most especially our own country, has not yet lived into his dream of equality. But...we have tried and we are continuing to try. I am glad that President Obama made the comment in his commemorative speech yesterday that "those who argue 'little has changed' since the 1960's dishonor the courage and sacrifice of those who had lost their lives in the civil rights struggle". Because; much has changed. The sadness that comes for me is that we haven't arrived yet at full equality among our minorities, that people are still judged by something other than "the content of their character". The question that pops into my mind is; will we ever?
Even the New Testament writer Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Galatia, that now "there is neither Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female; for we are all one in Christ." When will we understand, learn, and put into practice what Jesus, Paul and Dr. King tried to teach us and instill in us?
Perhaps it will not happen this side of heaven, but we will continue to try, we will remember, we will march, we will make statements and comments, speeches and sermons...and yes, even laws if we have to, until the Kingdom of God is complete.
Even the New Testament writer Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Galatia, that now "there is neither Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female; for we are all one in Christ." When will we understand, learn, and put into practice what Jesus, Paul and Dr. King tried to teach us and instill in us?
Perhaps it will not happen this side of heaven, but we will continue to try, we will remember, we will march, we will make statements and comments, speeches and sermons...and yes, even laws if we have to, until the Kingdom of God is complete.