"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I grew up during great turmoil and great hope. When I was in elementary school I saw the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. I had been witness to their hopeful, longing, challenging speeches dreaming of a world where people could live peacefully regardless of race, color, gender, religion or creed. I was inspired by their words and then they were gone. I have no idea what the effect of their deaths had on my generation. I am quite sure about the impression their lives left on how I see the world and my responsibilities within it.

You see, while I know that not all people had this experience, I know that their words echoed the words I had heard on Sunday mornings in my little church. Their words, for me, were the same as those spoken in the scriptures by Jesus. They called for justice for all people…a time when "every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together." Jesus’ words, like theirs, ended up being dangerous words.His life, like theirs, ended tragically. That left a deep imprint on my young life.

And yet today, as we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr., I still am captured by the hope of his message. In remembering, I find myself opening once again to that youthful, hopeful optimism that was the groundwork of my faith, my world view. Perhaps that is the role of the prophet….to continue to call us to our highest self, our greatest good, against all odds…..in life and in death. 

"I have a dream…" yes, a dream that is yet to be realized, but a dream nonetheless which continues to grab hold of our hearts, our faith, our political action, our work for justice. Dr. King also said "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

And to that, let the people say,"Amen."