So, I have the flu “B” with all of the trappings of the flu – quarantine for days on end, running to the restroom every time I cough because I’m that old, dull headache, boredom, boredom, boredom, and lots of boredom. The cat who needs Jesus tried to help yesterday by entertaining me with his antics of attacking bears on the TV. But, alas, he got bored just like me, and he eventually went away from this sick gal. I don’t blame him. There’s not even enough excitement in here for one person, let alone one person and a cat.
With quarantine comes the opportunity
- to watch endless TV,
- to read books, like the middle school “Michael Vey” series
- to think, think, and think some more.
So, here I am now: thinking. With Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day upon us, I’m thinking about and reading about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and what he accomplished. I’m thinking of his dream from August 28, 1963, where he said:
I’m thinking about how Dr. King was Christian, and in our world today, he probably would have been considered liberal by today’s standards. But, for me – as I think it was for him, too – it’s not about liberal vs. conservative, Republican vs. Democratic, political vs. apolitical. For me – as I think it was for him, too – it’s about right vs. wrong, especially as we, as Christians, view every person as a child of God who was created by God in his own image. So, with these thoughts in mind, to honor Dr. King in 2018, I am creating my own dream.
“I Have a Dream” by Deb Lowery
I have a dream of liberty, justice, and equality for all. I have a dream.
I have a dream that we stop judging and begin helping each other, truly helping each other, without question – no questions asked. I have a dream.
I have a dream that that we, as a wealthy nation, will work together to solve our poverty crisis where 20% percent of Americans who live in poverty – about 45 million in total – will, with the help of his fellow man, no longer struggle with making ends meet.
I have a dream.
I have a dream that we, as a wealthy nation, will work together to help America’s working poor, many who make $7.25 an hour and who work two to three jobs just to survive, not thrive. I have a dream where we will work together to guarantee the working poor a living wage that allows them the time to improve their lives and the lives of others, including their families and children.
I have a dream.
I have a dream that we, as a wealthy nation, will work together to solve homelessness in the United States where one out of every 50 children and almost 60,000 veterans are homeless in our great country.
I have a dream.
I have a dream that we, as a wealthy nation, will work together to provide a quality and equitable childhood education that is not based on wealth or zip code. For the first time in 50 years, the majority of U.S. public schools in America are in poverty. Sadly, this is the state of education for many children in our great country today:
- Kids recently huddled together in Baltimore in freezing classrooms (photo below)
- Mold on water fountains that kids and staff can’t drink from (yes, I taught there)
- Schools with limited parental or adult engagement because their parents work two to three jobs (yes, I taught there)
- Kids who take care of their younger siblings and miss school because mom had surgery and dad had to go to work (yes, I taught there)
I have a dream.
I have a dream that we, as a wealthy nation, will work together to provide every American with affordable health, vision, dental, and mental care.
I have a dream.
I have a dream that we work together to create a nation that supports equality for all because nations should support equality for all of its citizens.
I have a dream.
I have big dreams. Actually, I have big dreams that can’t be accomplished alone. But, I have big dreams nonetheless.
I have big dreams because God has given me so much, and I want everyone to experience the richness that he has given my family. I do not want to deprive anyone of their equality as God see them in his eyes. I know that God would want the best for his creation, and I, in humility, do not want to stand in the way of God’s best in every area that really impacts quality of life. I want to help bring God’s best in life to everyone, and providing the basics of shelter, a living wage, quality education, quality healthcare, and equality can do that.
Now, if I admit this truth to you and me, I don’t care who brings my dream to reality. I don’t care if it is a political party – the Democrats, Republicans, the Independents, the Libertarians, the Green Party – or if it is the common folk like you and me. The “who and the how” don’t really matter to me because the “who and how” may change over time, as people and platforms change over time. I just want the dream to become a reality. As a grateful servant, I do not want to stand in the way of God’s best for us all, and I will support the people who work to bring God’s best – who work to improve quality of life – to everyone.
In closing, as I think about the dream, I think of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:34-40:
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
This was Dr. King’s dream – and my dream today – to make a reality: to take care of the least of these – no questions asked. We can do it. Oh, yes, we can because big dreams can become big realities when we decide to work together to do the right thing for everyone.
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