What my Dad Taught Me about MLK Day

Friends,

How are you celebrating MLK Day?
Did you get the day off?
Are you ignoring emails? 😊

Today I am contemplatively celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., asking a question that feels as urgent now as ever:
What is mine to do, now?

In the early years of my pastorate, I was called to stand against racism from the pulpit. When I wanted to do the right thing—and wasn’t sure how—I did what I often did: I went to see my dad.

He shared stories from his years on the Archbishop’s Council for Race Relations in the 1960s. Dad marched with Dr. King. This Catholic man once passed the offering plate in a Methodist church while Dr. King was preaching. I was deeply grateful and proud—not only to be his daughter, but to know that he had hardwired my soul for anti-racism. He put his heart, mind, and strength into the work of justice and mercy.

He gave me his beloved copy of Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Since then, it has become my yearly pilgrimage to read this letter and listen again to the prophet-pastor on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Dr. King writes:

“Wherever the early Christians entered a town the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being ‘disturbers of the peace’ and ‘outside agitators.’ But they went on with the conviction that they were a ‘colony of heaven’ and had to obey God rather than man. They were small in number but big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be ‘astronomically intimidated.’

Things are different now. The contemporary Church is so often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch-supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the Church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the Church’s silent—and often vocal—sanction of things as they are.”
—Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail

As I read this letter again, I am aware of my own small corner of the world—and of old and new invitations to show up and honor what my father taught me. I want to be part of that “colony of heaven.” I want to obey God rather than man. I want to be too God-intoxicated to be astronomically intimidated.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Another set of words from Dr. King has also been rumbling around in my soul. In a televised interview, he said:

“We are dealing with two matters here. On the one hand, we are dealing with the problem of grappling with behavior and controlling behavior. On the other hand, we are dealing with changing attitudes.

I quite agree that attitudes are not often changed overnight. In this sense, it may be true that you cannot legislate morals. But while it is true that morality cannot be legislated, behavior can be regulated. The law may not change the heart, but it can restrain the heartless.

I think it is an immoral posture to hold the position that individuals—whether Negroes or members of other minority groups—should have their basic constitutional and God-given rights held up until some misguided individuals are able to change their attitudes. By changing the system itself, we often make it easier for individuals to change.” (click here to listen to this in Dr. Kings voice)

These words invite me into deeper reflection.

Reflection

• Who do you call upon when it’s time to do the right thing?

• How do you bring yourself into conversations when you sense heartlessness in attitudes?

• What laws—or communal commitments—might help us name and protect the inherent dignity and sacred worth of all of God’s children?

• Is there an invitation from God you are being asked to notice?

• Is there a temptation toward silence, comfort, or a hardened heart?

May we have the courage to listen—and the faith to respond.

Celebrating the life of Dr. King and all God’s Children,

Clare