They Will Be Heard

Schoolchildren have all heard of Martin Luther King, Jr. I wonder how many of them know who his namesake, Martin Luther, was. Just as MLK, Jr. shook up the world with his dream of equality and non-violence, so did Martin Luther, who made the radical claim that you couldn't buy your way into Heaven with "indulgences." This little heresy shattered the powerful grip of Rome. Church hierarchy it is still trying to recoup that loss. The Reformation hoed the ground for the very hymns Martin Luther King, Jr. sang. There would have been no Abide with Me or Silent Night or Ebenezer Baptist Church without Martin Luther. Spirituals would not have seen the light of day. There's a side, though, to the argument which I find compelling: those songs would have surfaced because of the sheer positive energy of their message. Someone else would have shaken up the establishment and marched. My granddaughter voiced another opinion. She said the messenger was the more important. Without a charismatic messenger, the message would not have caught fire. I think of Wesley, Truth, Garrison, Douglass, Parks, Stowe..... Either way, whatever side of the debate you take, be mindful of your assignment: carry on the dream.
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"Our scientific powers have outrun our spiritual powers; we have guided missiles and mis-guided men."--MLK,jr.

The blessings of peace and endurance guide you on this holiday.