Rest In Heaven Congressman John Robert Lewis. 1940-2020
Well Done, Good And Faithful Servant
Civil Rights Movement
For One Reason
you go into a business but figure out later that something different was planned. Artist go into entertainment to entertain people, but later see that their messages impact peoples lives. Artist like Sammy Davis Jr have carved out legacies that impact generations. They did more than entertained. They asked the questions we all needed to ask.
I Will Not Be Quiet! I Will Not Shut Up!
As long as there are people in the world who oppress others, I will be the champion of the oppressed. I was born in the middle of the 1960’s in the United States during a time when African Americans fought for equal rights. Yet my generation has been labeled soft because we had not had the oppressive experiences our parents lived through. They lived through segregation, lynchings, boycotts and marches. Their memories were scarred with what could happen if they gave up.
But what I love about this new Civil Rights Movement is that it is geared towards all people. This is not just a movement about African Americans. It is about all people from all walks of life having access to the same opportunities. Dr. King said ” We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” (I Have A Dream, Martin Luther King Jr.)
I caution you to be leery of people who tell you not to protest. Ask yourself what is their underlying motivation. Many people have had their sources of revenue messed up by this distress. It is time for these people to decide who they really represent. If God is there source, He will provide for them. If He is not, well.
Certain politicians are very smug and believe they control the people, but are slowly finding out that that is not true. In order to control the people, they have to control their minds and the information they take in. Again, they are fighting an old battle with old means.
What I love about this new movement is that many of our networks were already together thanks to the greed of some business savy folks who thought it would be cool if people connected through social media. A video can go viral without the help of the press or civic officials. Injustice is being captured and played for the world to see. And America is being held accountable for how she responds.
I mean really, a woman who called the police for help, was arrested by the man who came to help. She was going to face charges until someone released his bodycam video showing him beating the hell out of her and her daughters. And millions of views around the world made them drop the charges on the woman and reevaluate the police officer. (I mean city officials knew all this from the beginning, but having millions of viewers looking at you and questioning your decision making process made them change their minds about charges against the woman.)This is the world we live in and we are not shutting up until we get justice for all.
Another thing about this movement is that we share ideas on how to take on this beast call discrimination and prejudice. I love how people all over the world share ideas and pour into one another. I cherished getting Dr. Bernice King’s list on how to manage this. You share ideas in real time and they become movements.
No, do not be quiet! The person we save will probably be one of those folks in the back trying to pretend like this is not really a big deal. When they first started registering Jews in Germany, they probably thought it was no big deal. But we need to let them know they will have to fight for every piece of ground they take.
Resist.
Resist the darkness that wants to shove portions of our society down. Resist the talk that says they are Christians because Jesus did not love like that. Resist your own comfort and peace because someone is going to be discriminated against if YOU give up the fight. Don’t tear things up. Don’t physically hurt people. Resist the message that only certain people should have rights.
“With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” (I Have A Dream, Martin Luther King Jr.)
For What You Have Sacrificed
We thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You were not able to attend your kids soccer games or school programs. You were not able to see their wedding day or birth of their first children. You were not able to see the election of African American senators, congressmen and even the first African American President. But you marched on and we thank you.
You showed us how to love when we were treated poorly. When they put the dogs on us, beat us brutally and even took us to jail. You taught us it was an opportunity to love. Like the Apostle Paul, you even wrote us a letter from jail encouraging us during the fight.
You were not able to work for major corporations making high dollar salaries. You were not able to attend major universities seated next to children of senators and congressmen. You did not get to experience the wealth for which you fought. But you marched on and we thank you.
You showed us that during times of adversity is when we need to take the high road. You taught us faith was depending on God and not on man. You taught us that we need to keep up the fight even though we might not see the results. You lived that example for us.
You have left a powerful legacy. Thank you for the sacrifice. We don’t deserve it. Thank you for the example. We don’t deserve it. BUT we are going to do the same for the next generation and build on the example you have left. I pray that Lord will allow the stars in the heaven to shine brighter because of the work He has done through you.
Historic Moment
Last Saturday, I had the privilege to revisit a moment in our nation’s history.I stood in the middle of the street in Selma, Alabama and listened to one of the people involved in Bloody Sunday retell his story. It was a surreal moment.
In an age where everything is designed to overstimulate, a man telling the story of his oppression gives me hope. As he spoke about one of the darkest days of his life, last Saturday he stood in that same place as a member of the US Congress, beside an African American President with a crowd that reflected the dream of Dr. King. His message was one of hope.
I appreciate that John Lewis did the hard thing that Sunday fifty years ago. Many times we don’t want to do the hard thing, because it is hard.
But what really gets me is I serve a God that is just. Even though things look unfair. He levels the playing field.
A young man who stood up for the right to vote, now represents all of the people to protect their rights. He didn’t grow bitter or discouraged, He knew this was in the hands of a God who sees our sufferings and vindicates.
Rasicm, hatred and oppression are not dead, but neither is the Lord who conquers them all. He can take something like the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a relic of the KKK and use it to turn a corner in the Civil Rights Movement. This bridge will always be associated with giving all people the right to vote. Got to love God’s sense of humor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJmO56P3MVc&feature=youtu.behttp://
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6D0lAmhJMU&feature=youtu.be
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