Racial Struggle, Personal Reconciliation, and Hope for Redemption

On this day to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, my friend Mark Biddle shared an important word on his blog about how the struggle for justice is on that is never complete. We must always be working to increase awareness and to make justice a reality. One prayerful reminder of this is found in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer where one of the congregational intercessions is "For all who work for justice, freedom and peace."

Mark includes a link in his blog post to the following video which tells the story of a redemptive reunion between Congressman John Lewis and Elwin Wilson, a man who had stood on the other side of of the civil rights struggle, back in 1961.

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Monday Music: If It Had Not Been for the Lord on My Side

I heard this sung at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama yesterday. I was so moved by it, especially in that context and in celebration of Martin Luther King Day that I had to come find a recording of it. Here is the song as recorded live in Philadelphia at the Gospel Music Workshop Mass Choir of America.

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Saturday Haiku: Trees in Winter

bare trees in winter

life’s symmetry remembered

cold wind embraces

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Image: Clump of Trees in Winter, 1976
Artist: Joichi Hoshi (Japanese, 1913–1979)
Medium: woodcut

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