What does God require of you
But to do justice,
And to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
~Micah 6:8
If you make your way down Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis these days, you may find yourself confronted with the essence of this scripture from the prophet Micah. On the illuminated sign just outside our church you will see these messages in various stages of a brilliant blue: “Do Justice”, “Love Kindness”, “Walk Humbly”. At prescribed intervals these messages are flashed at the hundreds, perhaps thousands of cars that drive by each day. This says nothing of the walkers, those standing at the bus stop nearby or the countless bikers that make their way along the bike path that runs horizontally with the church.
Today as I left the office “Love Kindness” was shining forth in the afternoon sun. I felt warm all over. I love that this message is being sent into the world. I love that its beams might counteract what may be playing on the airwaves in the cars that are stopped at the light. I love that this bright blue message might seep into the minds and hearts of those who have just had a negative encounter with another person. Turning the corner and heading onto the freeway, I allowed these two simple words to fill in all the cracks and crevices of my own being that had been attacked by any harsh words and images over the last few days. It was a healing balm.
The prophet Micah lived in as complicated a time as we do. He may not have had a world view that was as expansive as ours but he saw much around him that needing changing in order to live as he perceived God intended. The prophet’s life is not an easy one. It is not the way to be the most popular kid on the block. Perhaps you have known was prophets in your life and have watched them struggle. Perhaps you are one so you know what I mean.
But these words, just one verse of scripture, have rung out through the millennia. These words spoken by a young man some 700 years before the time of Jesus, still hold a deep wisdom that can inform our living. Confronted as we are every day with choice upon choice as to how to walk in the way of peace, this could be our mantra. As we look at the ways in which we work, grow and buy our food, educate our children, entertain ourselves or vote, the act of doing justice, loving kindness and walk humbly are as good a place to start as I can imagine.
What places are calling you to acts of justice these days? When have you given yourself over to the love of kindness? In a culture that seems steeped more and more in impatience and quick judgments, being kind and just can take a concerted discipline. Even in the little things of the every day, it can be a test of will to hold onto these two phrases Micah calls ‘requirements’.
But somehow I think the walking humbly part may be the most difficult. The good news is, I guess, that the walking humbly is not alone. It is walking humbly with God. Which probably makes all the difference.
Don’t you think?