A Symphony of Love

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As a child I was told that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a communist since he advocated for poor people. As a young adult, I was unsure that MLK, Jr. deserved a holiday (first celebrated in 1986). As a seminary student, I met the pastor and preacher and theologian I never knew; I read his speeches. And now there are few people from history I admire more.

An excerpt from his speech "I HAVE A DREAM!"
 

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low. The rough places will be plain and the crooked places will be made straight," and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." (Isaiah 40:5)

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. And this will be the day. This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning, "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

Martin Luther King, Jr. August 28, 1963

Pastor Curtis says, "May we be a symphony of love in a world of discord." AMEN.