Dear Dedicated Dreamers:

Yesterday morning, Maurice and Shawana McGee coordinated and hosted La Grange’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast at First Baptist Church, the first in-person celebration in four years. It was again a privilege to participate in this gathering, bringing together faith and community leaders to both commemorate Dr. King’s pursuit of justice and inspire our own hearts to consider our dedication to equality and opportunity.

Our keynote speaker was The Reverend Edward L. Branch, Pastor Emeritus of the Third New Hope Baptist Church of Detroit and brother of La Grange resident William Branch. His words were inspiring as he spoke on one of Dr. King’s favorite passages from the Hebrew Scriptures, Micah 6.8: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Rev. Branch spoke eloquently regarding justice, mercy and humility, suggesting these three characteristics are the crucial building blocks of Dr. King’s envisioned Beloved Community.

Prior to Rev. Branch’s remarks, the gathered participants were led in prayers for unity and peace. We sang together “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “We Shall Overcome,” led by Elder Alfredo Banks from Davis Memorial A.M.E. Rev. Sabrina Hughey, pastor of Davis Memorial, was our worship leader. After three years of unsatisfying online gatherings, it was good to be together.

Throughout the event I was surprised by my own reaction to our fellowship. I departed with a deeper satisfaction than experienced in our video commemorations. My appreciation arose not from the copious breakfast buffet (which was great) but from lifting voices, seeing faces, making connections—experiences impossible to share in the curated frame of an online video event. Beloved Community can only be seen, felt, tasted and heard in the midst of a flesh and blood gathering.

That’s the challenge of justice, mercy and humility. These are profoundly important concepts, but they are emptied of their true meaning if they do not involve real people praying together, listening to one another and breaking the bread of fellowship.

On April 3, 1968, Dr. King delivered what would become his last speech in Memphis at the Mason Temple, Church of God in Christ headquarters. It is remembered as his “mountaintop speech,” in which he used the image of Moses being taken to Mt. Nebo to peer over into the promised land, land he would not be permitted to enter (see Deuteronomy 34.1-4). In his sermon, Dr. King spoke these oft quoted words:

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

And so, I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything.
I’m not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!

These words are often quoted with the long-haul weight of some time yet to become, a prophetic vision with Dr. King seeing beyond our day to a day that will someday be, when justice, mercy and kindness bring forth a promised reign.

I concur with that reading; I believe Dr. King was envisioning a day not yet come. But I also think his ultimate vision was bolstered by real experience. When Dr. King said, “I’ve seen the promised land,” I believe he was thinking of those times, no matter how brief, when he witnessed true unity, deep grace, profound reconciliation and undeniable peace. Even though those moments evaporated in angry heated opposition, they still happened; they were no less real.

Our vision of what may come is borne up in those little glimpses when we witness justice, mercy and humility. Our work is to continue breaking down distance, placing ourselves in uncomfortable places, finding opportunities to blend faith-filled vision with rock-hard reality. It does not matter if it lasts forever, but it is possible, even if only for a few hours on a Monday morning.

Occasionally glimpsing what is promised, I remain,

With love,
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor