Today celebrates the lesser feast of Saint Martin Luther King, Jr. in my church community--pastor, prophet, community activist, civil rights leader. I've been astounded over the years, by people that I respect, as his name is mentioned, immediately refer to the stories surrounding MLK's private life, those concerning extra-marital affairs he may have had, connections with the Communist Party, and issues concerning plagiarism in his graduate work.
Yep. OK. Probably some truth to all those things.
I don't want to be dismissive of anything that is hurtful, don't want to dismiss sin in anyone's life, don't want to justify it. But I think it is true with most of us that we have a nobel side and as well as a shadow side. If only our nobility even remotely matched that of Martin Luther King, Jr., this world would be an astoundingly different place.
The work that MLK and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference embarked on in the 50's and 60's was formidable. The transformation of the individual is a daunting task enough, to attempt such a thing culturally is fraught with peril, confusion, self-doubt, and fear. It is next to impossible. This work of God's Spirit was met with an entrenched societal evil. So the engagement had to have been convoluted and messy at times, both externally and within the psyche of its participants.
These passing comments of my peers flirt with the idea that MLK's work is somehow negated by his personal struggles. It isn't. But it is a reminder that when we embark on noble ventures we bring with us our own frail humanity, one that wrestles with powers and principalities, without and within.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter 5
I sense that MLK new these words from Peter's epistle very well, perhaps too well. Both because of and in spite of these convolutions, I thank my God for his life, his witness, his work and yes, his humanity, which like mine, is dependent always on God's kindness and grace.
I've posted a link below to a song written by my friends Billy Crockett and Milton Brashear-Cunningham about Martin Luther.
Down with the Ship
martin was ahead of his time
and time was so far behind
he had no eye for an eye
in his point of view
but what he could see
it was a beautiful dream
the trouble with dreaming things
is seeing them come true
when you set out on the high sea
when you set out on a hope trip
sometimes you get to your bright tomorrow
sometimes you’ve got to go down with the ship
sometimes you’ve got to go down with the ship
martin had the fight of his life
stared right into the enemies’ eyes
tried to wake them from their comfortable lie
that’s how ships go down
he wasn’t ready for a long white robe
he prayed for brave hearts and hands to hold
and people right here to sing and know
that we shall overcome
when you set out on the high sea
when you set out on a hope trip
sometimes you get to your bright tomorrow
sometimes you’ve got to go down with the ship
sometimes you’ve got to go down with the ship
the truth won’t die just because your heroes fall
someday all flesh will stand to see it all
see the mountains laid low
and the rough made plain . . .
As I said to Lauren and our table of friends that night...I believe in miracles - look at the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
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