Monday; January 17

Throughout his ministry, Dr. Martin Luther King was known for his call for unilateral justice. In fact, he is quoted as saying “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”. In essence, justice is a universal concept not just a collection of isolated individual events. The more we pursue justice, the more it will infiltrate our society. Yet, the opposite is also true. If we ignore incidents or pockets of injustice, it will creep into our social norms. Over the last few months, I have been thinking a lot about this in a separate, yet parallel aspect of our society – violence. If you will allow me to adapt Dr. King’s thoughts, “Violence anywhere is a threat to security everywhere.”. When we do not call out acts of violence for what they are, we are guilty of ignoring – if not initiating – a downward spiral of social morality. Unless we are willing to stand up to acts of violence, we are putting all of our communities at risk!
Centuries ago, a man of God challenged his community, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). As we watch our communities today, are we seeking these simple (but vital) principles or are we allowing violent people cheapen the collective value of life? As we consider this, let’s recall Dr. King’s observation, “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”. Civility is an important part of our growth as communities and as a nation. Let’s move forward in peace by standing up for what is right – and kind.
Think About It!

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