All this week, leading up to the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 20th, we’ll be featuring some of the best writing from the Bread for the Journey blog that references or is inspired by Dr. King’s witness. We’ll feature one article each morning. Today’s reflection is from Art Laffin. This post originally appeared January 16, 2012.
by Art Laffin
Dear brother,
servant of justice,
you showed America how
to walk in the light. to tell the truth,
to create the beloved community.
Like Gandhi,
you conspired
to nonviolently resist injustice–
to overcome evil with good!
Minister and Peacemaker
prisoner for Jesus,
you challenged America
to break its addiction to the triple evils:
racism,
materialism,
militarism.
You called us forth,
to follow the way of Jesus,
to renounce violence,
resist war,
to break down the walls of prejudice,
to embrace peace.
The powers that be
threatened by justice,
killed you–
but not your message.
You live, dear brother,
your life–a beacon of hope!
The beloved community
is still being forged.
Death will not have the last word.
Love will overcome!
(Written in Rappanhannock Jail, Fredricksburg, VA, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 1994. From Swords Into Plowshares , edited by Art Laffin and Anne Montomery).