Devotion - ML King Day

I grew us in a small, rural, southern community.  The principal in my elementary school (while subbing in our one-teacher classroom) gave an impassioned plea for not mixing the races.  He spoke of his conviction of vast intellectual differences.

At that school, while the teacher was out of the room, we took a vote for President.  Johnson lost, because he was labeled a lover of persons of color (I am paraphrasing the label which was actually used.)  

My high school mascot was "The Rebel".  On the press box of our football field there was a large Confederate Flag.  The Southern Gentleman was painted on the wall of the basketball gym.

This was my background, when I enrolled in a course at seminary on King.  One of the books we read was his collection of sermons titled "Strength to Love."  He spoke of Jesus' insistence that we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  He pointed out that any weakling can respond with anger and violence; it takes strength (the strength of angels and Messiahs) to love.

King found the strength to love "me" and so many like me.  His God-given strength made it possible for me to see the Blessed Community of which he also wrote.  On this day, I will recommit myself to remaining strong enough to love.  This is my honoring of King; this is my commitment to following Jesus.