Martin Luther King Week of Inspiration
Today on Martin Luther King Day it is so important to pause and connect to this man and his message as it is needed now more than ever before. Although there was so much Dr. King stood for, one of his defining examples was his commitment to non-violence. No matter how much oppression, injustice or discrimination this man faced, he always upheld this commitment in action, words and thoughts, yes thoughts. Certainly we need to return to his commitment to non-violence in our demands for racial and social justice (no, the means does not justify the ends), but equally we need to commit to non-violence in our thinking. What does that mean? It means that violent actions don’t just begin on the streets or out in the battlefield. They begin in someone’s head, and not just someone, but us, you and I. We are all responsible for disharmony, unrest and upheaval in the world to some degree. It comes down to our actions, our beliefs and ultimately our thoughts. You want to heal the world? Then get rid of the violence in your head and your heart, and heed this great man’s words, “nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” -MLK
Let’s make it an MLK Day week, not only for him, but for us. We need to channel him, his love, compassion and hope today and everyday, now more than ever. So, today lets channel Reverend King’s sense of faith. It’s imperative we remember the Reverend not just the Doctor. He believed in God, believed In God’s goodness and grace was here among us. Today I hear so much pessimism, negativity and despair in those who fight for racial equality, social justice, and environmental issues. If there is a devil, it’s despair. It wreaks havoc on our mind, heart and spirit and will ultimately cause us to lose our way. We must return to Reverend King’s example, return to faith, hope and see the beauty and goodness in the world and one another. The world is still wondrous. Human beings are fundamentally good. Tomorrow will be better than today. God is always with us and with God all things are possible. We must, like this great man, have a Reverend King kind of faith.
Here’s one of the many problems with the rise of cancel culture. It makes no room for repentance on behalf of the perpetrator, nor forgiveness from the one who has been hurt. It dehumanizes both parties, reduces them to their worst moments and hardens us as we become judge, jury and executioner, sentencing them to cultural, professional or even literal death. This cancel culture would have been throughly rejected if Reverend King were with us today. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act,” said Reverend King. “it is a constant attitude.” No, we should not forget what’s been done to us, the wrongs in the world and we all need to do our part, step up and make it a better place.Yes, let’s cancel injustice, hatred and evil, out in the world and within our hearts. However, let’s commit to never, ever cancelling another human being. Instead, in honor of Reverend King, let’s learn to forgive, to allow others to repent, and restore this world with divine, compassionate and loving grace.
Let’s all stop, take a collective breath and remember that we are more than black or white, Democrat or Republican, Christian or Atheist, Man or Woman or your gender of choice. There is so much either/or, us vs. them, choose sides and go to war out there. Republicans are not the enemies of Democrats. Liberals are not the enemies of conservatives. Christians are not the enemies of Atheists. Muslims are not the enemies of Jews… Not unless we are fools. In the words of Reverend King, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” We must stop the rhetoric, stop the labeling and stop the war. We must come back to the conversation and the relationship, not as enemies, but brothers and sisters, and not as fools.
A sentiment I think we're all growing tired of after another mass shooting, natural disaster or synagogue terrorism is, "we're praying for you." Look, prayer is beautiful, impactful and real, as is meditation, mindfulness and all kinds of sacred movement and practice. It's just not enough. Yes, there is a time and place to send love and prayers, and as a tragedy or atrocity is unfolding, sometimes that's all we can do in the moment. However, the moment always comes to an end, and that's where the real work of love and prayer must shift from our heart to our hands, or as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught, from our heart to our feet. In 1965, Heschel went to Selma, Alabama, to march with Martin Luther King in the struggle for civil rights. Someone who marched with him questioned why this eminent scholar came to Selma instead of remaining in his ivory tower in New York where he taught theology, or go to the house of worship as religious people tend to do? Heschel’s reply was profound: “When I march in Selma, my feet are praying.” As we bring to a close this week of reflection on the work and example of Reverend King, let us end by committing to Rabbi Heschel's reminder, that prayer is a start, but it isn't an end. Sending love and prayers is a beginning when the darkness descends, however, it is up to each and every one of us to turn those prayers into reality and our love into vigilant, relentless and devoted pounding of the pavement with our feet. Yes, let's all pray for victims whenever and wherever they are being victimized. But just as importantly, let's remember to also stop simply praying with our hearts and start praying with our feet.