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We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Oh, deep in my heart I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's life and legacy, we sang this song in church today.
As the words unfurled from my tongue and the music swirled about the room, my mind's eye was transported back to the days when he was alive.
The Lord will see us through
The Lord will see us through
The Lord will see us through someday
Oh, deep in my heart I do believe
The Lord will see us through someday.
Though I was only a little girl, I intuitively grasped the issues of his work.
Decent men and women were upset that the world did not treat them fairly.
Just because they were black.
Some whites were upset about it too.
I recall seeing pictures of the marches in magazines and on television, and I was deeply touched by what I saw.
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand someday
Oh, deep in my heart I do believe
We'll walk hand in hand someday.
These people, some genteel in their formal coats and dress shoes and stylish hats.
Other wearing the plain simple clothes of working folks.
Calmly, serenely, they walked in steady streams.
The sound of their footsteps often punctuated by spiritual songs
As if they were coming home from a morning at church.
You would never guess they were fighting against evil.
But even as a tiny child, I knew they were.
We are not afraid We are not afraid
We are not afraid today
Oh, deep in my heart I do believe
We are not afraid today.
And today, though we still have a ways to go before we completely overcome the dark powers of racial inequality, the truth is that we have come a long, long way since the days of Dr. King.
But sometimes, I wonder if we have lost track of the truth that racism is a spiritual battle.
Dr. King knew that it was.
He invoked the power of the pulpit and prayer in his pursuit of peace.
His speeches convey the lilting cadence of God talk.
His Biblical references and spiritual imagery flow freely.
And sometimes, I wonder if we have forgotten that.
So today, on this day that celebrates the life of this courageous and remarkable man, I pray that we remember and lift up equality as not a political issue or an ugly argument about white privilege.
I pray that we remember what Dr. King taught us - that racism is evil, and only God can truly set us free from its wicked grasp.
And I pray that someday, we will indeed live in peace.
We shall live in peace
We shall live in peace
We shall live in peace someday
Oh, deep in my heart I do believe
We shall live in peace someday.
* * * * *
More reflections on this special man:
MLK Day Musings
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