I have been both intrigued and mystified by the dreams and visions in the Bible...wrestling angels, burning bushes, chariots of fire, a blinding light on the road to Damascus. Though these mysterious events have stirred my imagination, at the same time they seemed a bit out of this world for my engineering oriented mind. They seemed to only happen to specially chosen people, living in a period many millennia before my lifetime.
However, a deeper study in recent years of those events has shown me that these are windows through which we can see how miracles can take place in our everyday existence. In each instance, God gave the person something specific and tangible to take back into ordinary life. A guiding torch, a new name, a fresh start, a safe place…these events gave our spiritual ancestors a closeness to God, a companionship we can also attain. These people were not Superman or Wonderwoman. They were ordinary people like you and me.
Yesterday, Tuesday, January 15th was the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Next Monday, the third Monday in January has been set aside as a national holiday in his memory. During this coming week, there will be various interfaith activities held in his honor throughout our nation.
On August 28, 1963, he spoke these words to the multitude gathered in our nation’s capital, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” He was a man of vision, and though his children are now adults fast approaching middle age, his vision is yet to be fulfilled!
Today, I want to speak about another person of color who also carried out a dream. About five years ago, I heard Leontyne Price sing “God Bless America” at the Met on the occasion of its tribute to Richard Tucker. Leontyne Price’s road to fame was made possible by the dream of another woman of color from an earlier generation, Marian Anderson.
In 1939, Marian Anderson was denied the use of Constitution Hall in the nation’s capital for a recital because she was a black woman. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) prohibited its use by persons of color. Learning of this, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt publicly resigned from the organization. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes invited Miss Anderson to perform at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday. More than 75,000 people heard the concert live, a record at that time, and millions more heard the radio broadcast. The event was so momentous and inspiring that the DAR finally invited her to sing at the Hall for a war relief concert, an event attended by both black and white people.
Miss Anderson’s honors are legion. She was our delegate to the General Assembly of the United Nations. She received honorary doctorates from over two dozen universities, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Presidential Medal of Honor, and decorations from numerous countries. She won the United Nations Peace Prize in 1977 and her face adorns the $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond.
I believe the stand that Eleanor Roosevelt took in resigning from the DAR was a witness of her wisdom and selfless love for all the people of world, and provided spiritual strength for Miss Anderson in dealing with racism down the years.
I would like to share Mrs. Roosevelt’s wisdom and values with you as we cross the threshold into the Year 2008.
“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but true friends will leave footprints in your heart.As Christians and being disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to go into the world and share our faith in the hope that others will become disciples. The greatest thing we can do for people is to bring them into a relationship with our Lord and Savior. To do this, the lamp must be put onto the lamp stand and the salt sprinkled onto the meat.
“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.
“Anger is only one letter short of danger.
“If someone betrays you once, it’s his fault; if he betrays you twice, it’s your fault.
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
“He who loses money loses much; he who loses a friend loses much more, but he who loses faith loses all.
“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
“Learn from the mistakes of others for you can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.
“Friends, you and me…you brought another friend and then we were three. We started a group, our circle of friends and like that circle there is no beginning or end.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift; that’s why it is the present.”
Throughout his writings, Paul speaks of our ministry as a commission, as beaming light, extending grace to more and more people, becoming ambassadors for God and working as partners with our Creator.
In our often dark joyless world, people yearn for sunshine. And when they see it shining brightly and unashamedly in another person’s life, they are drawn to inquire about it. You can be that light. Beaming light into the world depends on how we forge our friendships. Through friendships, the love of Christ can break through.
People are looking for demonstrated love. The people of God need to reach out to others in genuine love, care and empathy. Jesus said that love would mark true discipleship when he gave his new commandment (John 13:34-35).
You can tell if someone cares. He or she sends a card, provides transportation, volunteers, takes care of a child, delivers a meal, listens actively, holds a hand, extends hospitality, visits a hospital, tutors, offers a prayer, cleans, does the laundry, makes phone calls.
The story is told about a minister named Vincent who wanted to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to slaves in the Roman galleys. He was utterly unsuccessful until he chose to be a galley slave himself. Vincent became one of them, pounding with the oars and sharing their trials and hardships. The story hits the essence of true discipleship. You can only make disciples of your friends.
So tell your story when the time comes. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, was stung into wholehearted Christian service by a skeptic who said, “If I believed what you Christians believe, I would not rest day or night from telling people about it” (Evangelism Through the Local Church, Michael Green).
Possessing the good news of the gospel bears the obligation of sharing it. That which God divinely gave us must be passed on. You and I can be Christ’s hands, feet and lips that will bring his gospel to those who have not heard it.
Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? If so, then “Let Your Light Shine!”
Amen.
