a little and a lot

Friday, April 04, 2008

Three Quotes for the Fourth of April

Today is an important day in Memphis. 
On this day where the incessant raindrops make me think of justice rolling down like water and rushing on like a never-ending stream, I thought I would share some moving words that are on my mind and in my heart...

Excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "Mountaintop Speech," given in Memphis, TN on April 3, 1968, the day before he was assassinated:
"Something is happening in Memphis, something is happening in our world...

In the human rights revolution, if something isn't done, and in a hurry, to bring the colored peoples of the world out of their long years of poverty, their long years of hurt and neglect, the whole world is doomed. Now, I'm just happy that God has allowed me to live in this period, to see what is unfolding. And I'm happy that He's allowed me to be in Memphis...

Now, let me say as I move to my conclusion that we've got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point, in Memphis. We've got to see it through. And when we have our march, you need to be there. Be concerned about your brother. You may not be on strike. But either we go up together, or we go down together....

We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

(Verse and chorus from "Pride" by U2)

Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love 
What more in the name of love

(Meditation written by Claudia Mair Burney in "Justice in the Burbs")
Jesus lives next door.  He's an eight-year-old girl and her three-year-old brother.  The Son of Man looks like those starving Ethiopian children.  He only gets breakfast and lunch at school, when he makes it.  His mama is a crack whore.  Nobody knows where his daddy is.  I heard his mama lets her "Johns" do things to him.

Poor King of Kings.

Jesus is two houses down and has six children.  Now he's pregnant with the seventh.  I don't know if he hasn't figured out what birth control is, or what, but how does he expect his husband to feed all those babies on that salary?  And you know with all those kids the Lord of Lords can't work.  That mean's hardworking taxpayer's money has to go for Christ's food stamps!

He needs to get fixed.

The Lord is a crazy man--paranoid schizophrenic.  If he doesn't take his medication, he walks up and down the street, cussing and spitting on everybody he passes.  He's homeless.  Nobody knows where his family is--if he's got one.  Digs out of the trash cans for food.  Somebody ought to get him off the street.

Jesus is nothing but a nuisance.

I'm starting to see the Son of God everywhere I go.  He's always crying or begging or looking pitiful.  Why doesn't he pull himself up by his bootstraps?  This is America!  Makes me mad.  He's ruining our neighborhood.

Somebody ought to do something about him.
Somebody.

2 comments:

ashley said...

my recent specific prayer has been that Jesus would open my eyes and soften my judging heart so that I can see people and love people like he sees them and loves them - not the way i immediately see and judge them, not love them out of pity or obligation, but love them as a soul who Jesus created and died for. i'm not good at it at all, but i'm trying. thanks for putting that into an example for me.

Ashley @ pure and lovely said...

something for me to chew on...thanks


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