Remembering Martin Luther King

45 years ago today, on August 28th 1963, Martin Luther King delivered his remarkable "I have a dream speech" before 200,000 people who had gathered before the Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. "I have a dream" is of such extraordinary prophetic truth that it moves a nation from the reality and plight of their present situation to move forward with confidence to embrace a new identity of justice and hope. For people of faith, it remains one of the iconic statements of justice for all humanity. For those who campaign for justice, fairness, and equality throughout the world, King's words remain inspirational. Interestingly the most memorable part of the speech was unscripted - King departed from his text. He later wrote: "at that point I just turned aside from the manuscript altogether and didn't come to it." So the most memorable words in twentieth century American consciousness were entirely unscripted and unprepared. Less than a thousand words, yet each one unforgetable. Together extraordinarily powerful in their impact insofar as the words had the power to change minds, and attitudes, people's lives, and ultimately the destiny of a nation. Enshrined within I have a dream are found the deepest reservoir of a Christian hope for a new world order where justice, tolerance, and freedom are found. As we commemorate I have a dream today, may we be inspired to do our dreaming for our society in a way that brings real change and transformation.

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I will go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.
With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."