I confess that when I was young many people who surrounded me in my little world held MLK in deep suspicion. He was not considered a great man by them. I often heard statements like, “Once the FBI files on MLK are opened, the world will really see what he was like. And they won’t be celebrating him so much.” I confess that I believe this was rooted in blatant racism.
I confess that I have never suffered for anything the way MLK suffered for those who were pushed to the margins of society because of the color of their skin. I confess that I have no idea what it must have been like to continue to speak out boldly in the face of so much violence. I confess that I cannot imagine having to get up every single day knowing that people were plotting my death – that today could be the day that I am finally killed.
I confess that I cannot imagine holding to nonviolence in the face of so much violence.
I confess that racism still lives in our city of
I confess that whole neighborhoods in urban KCMO, and the neighborhood my friends at the Hope Center live and work in, are dealing with what can only be described as complete and total social breakdown. I confess that there is no way we would ever allow this to be the case in our own neighborhoods. We would not stand for the violence. We would not stand for the failing schools. We would not stand for the economic breakdown. We would not stand for the lack of opportunity. We would not stand for the drugs. I confess that parts of my city are on fire right now, and I am not doing nearly enough to help.
I confess that although it is easy to get people from my world to go to the inner city to do bible school or evangelize, it is nearly impossible to get them to go and bear witness to the violence, to lobby for better schools, to stand with our brothers and sisters and say racism is still alive, to create economic opportunity, to take on the yoke of poverty and protest it at the top of our lungs. I confess that my unwillingness to speak out, show up, get involved, use my voice, to use my imagination, give my resources... it makes their world inevitable. I confess that I believe we in the suburbs have isolated ourselves from the plight of the city, and effectively exported violence, poverty, and social problems to them.
I confess that MLK day is one of the most difficult days of the year for me personally. It’s the one day that I cannot escape the fact that I do not live with enough courage; that I live in a city that is still infected with racism, and yet I do almost nothing about it.
I confess that today I am praying for Chris and Tammy Jehle, and the Hope Center Staff. For my friends Jake Latta, Nate Jackson, Matt Nagel, Kelli Johnson, the Belts & the Garrs... who have more courage than I have ever had. I confess that your school, your leadership training, your medical facility, your presence in that community is truly bringing hope. I confess that I believe you are pushing back the darkness. I confess that you are teaching me what it means to be a Christian. I confess that you, and others like you, are the true heirs of the ministry of Dr. King. I post this - my favorite clip of Dr. King speaking - in your honor today.
Peace of Christ to you.
Okay - I made my confession... now make yours!
2 comments:
Thank you, TIm. I confess that instead of going out to volunteer and stand in solidarity with my sisters and brothers in MLK activities in Nashville I am sitting inside and writing about theological aspects of worship that I should be embodying. Kyrie Eleison.
I confess that I am a gutless citizen of a nation that is content to honor a martyr by declaring a holiday in his name, but is not ready to live up to the high standard that he, and other prophets, call us to.
I confess that I am challenged and convicted by his words, may g-d help me.
I confess that I do not understand what he and so many others have gone through, that the lives they lived are beyond my ken. I confess that I shudder when I think of my own life being so carelessly handled by those in power.
I confess that Christ our Lord is alive and working in us, and we're so often fighting him every step of the way. I confess that I want him to win, even as I cringe at getting there.
I confess that this day is a holy day, a day for commemoration and a day for sharing the communion of the saints, past, present, and future.
I confess I pray far more often than I would like, to have the courage of my convictions, and would live the life that Christ calls us to.
I confess my love for my brothers and sisters in Kansas City, in this state, and in this nation, and around the world. Different and yet alike, we are all one family - it's time we started acting like it.
May g-d have mercy on our poor souls.
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