We are living in historic times…On Tuesday before dawn, a group of moms were evicted from a vacant house in Oakland, drawing attention to the fact that here in Oakland there are nearly four vacant properties for every homeless person. It’s not so much an issue of scarcity, but of distribution. It raises many questions: Who are we? Why is this happening? What are we called to do, as a society, and as people of faith?
The questions raised by another great prophet of recent history, Rev Dr Martin Luther King Junior, who, following in the ways of Jesus and of Gandhi, embraced non violent civil resistance to bring forth greater justice and good news for the poor, who continue to be disproportionally people of color.
I am sharing with you these articles about Kingian Nonviolence conflict reconciliation: “Pilgrimage to Nonviolence“ and “Statement and Letter from Birmingham Jail“.
Please join us for worship and for a conversation after worship about non violent conflict reconciliation as it relates to our current housing crisis.
I leave you with the prophetic words of Dr King:
We shall overcome someday,The ultimate measure of humankind is not where we stand in moments of comfort and convenience but where we stand and times of challenge and controversy.We’ll walk hand in hand…We will have to repent in this generation.. not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of silence of the good people. in the end will not remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.We are not afraid…nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon because it cuts without wounding and ennobles the one who wields it. Non-violence is a sword that heals.The truth shall set us free…unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. Right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.We are not alone ..the solution to poverty is simply this.. we must abolish it..We shall all be free…on the day before his death he simply said, I just want to do God’s will..
Blessings, Pastor Laurie
