For all of the Martins....

January 18, 2021

MLK Day

Seattle, WA

I awoke early this morning, in part because that's become my routine as I work with my colleagues who live on Eastern Time. And in part because I will join them in that time zone later this week. So, when my body moved and awoke at 4am, my monkey mind reminded me that it was 7am in the time zone I'd be waking in soon enough and that I might just as well get up and begin to make that adjustment.

The country is a mess. It's hard not to despair. But like me and big moves, we've been here before, in times that are, well, just a mess. And into those times God often sends prophets. People whose courage and vision call us to our best selves. For those of us with inherent privilege, it's not easy. But it's the work we must do.yet."

The country is a mess. It's hard not to despair. But like me and big moves, we've been here before, in times that are, well, just a mess. And into those times God often sends prophets. People whose courage and vision call us to our best selves. For those of us with inherent privilege it's not easy. But it's the work we must do.

So, we give thanks this day, for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and for his faithful courage in another mess of a time in this country. I am sharing one of my favorite quotes from Dr. King and a poem written in his honor for this day. May he inspire us to continue to work for justice and freedom for all of God's beloved children.

"Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love." -MLK

They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. —Jeremiah 6.14 Martin reminds us in an unjust system calling for “peace” and “unity” simply protects the system, justifies the injustice, keeps the slaves enslaved. Injustice will not let go till it is pushed; the righteous choose to not go along with evil, but to trouble it, to push back, to resist. Liberation requires disruption: a boycott, a freedom march, an Exodus. It needn't be violent. But it will disrupt. It will disrupt abuse of power, exploitation of people and living things. It will certainly disrupt expectations, habits, propriety, business as usual. (They said to Jesus, “It is not lawful to heal...”) It is not self-serving, doesn't turn opponents into enemies. But it doesn't make peace with cruelty. It's uncomfortable. God, give me the courage to disrupt injustice with love.

Steve Garnaas-Holmes