As we prepare to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and Human Relations Day this weekend, we find ourselves continuing to strive to be that beloved community of which Dr. King spoke. One that cares for our neighbors and puts the needs of others before our own.
We have seen story after story of neighbors helping others in times of crisis. This is what we do. As human beings we take care of one another, but not just in times of need. We should do it as a matter of habit. A daily habit of love, of laying our lives down for one another.
“We know love by this, that He [Jesus] laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.”
1 John 3:16
In Three Mile an Hour God, Kosuke Koyama introduces an interesting concept that love has its own speed, an inner speed that is spiritual and different from the fast pace in which we live. Yet this slow speed tops any others because it is the speed of love.
What if we were to slow down from the frenetic pace of life and take a walk with Jesus, who didn’t seem to rush here and there, but took His time as He went from town to town. Stopping to heal, pray, care for the needs of others. Stopping to be in relationship with the humans He encountered along the way. Jesus was engaged in the world, not distant from it.
Who needs to know that you are there for them with a listening ear or a praying heart? In the course of any given day we can see five to ten people in different settings. Do you ever slow down enough to “see” them? To pray for them? Dr. King laid his life down for folks he never met, for beliefs he held firm, for the Lord who laid His own life down for him. May we remember his sacrifice and honor his legacy by being in service to others this weekend. It just may become a habit!
Join us this month for service activities that will honor Dr. King and bless our community. Some are on-site and others are off-site. Please see our website for the menu of activities and to sign up.
I hope you can be with us this Sunday as we celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Join us in-house at 10:00am, or you can also join us online. For online worship go to www.umcgt.org.
Coffee & Conversations: A Faith and Social Justice Podcast presented by our newly formed Social Justice Ministry, under the leadership of Amanda Hughes. There will be a new podcast every two months on an issue of injustice in the world. The topic for January-February is: Racism and Equity, with guest presenter Heather Fleming. You can find it on Apple Podcast and Spotify, or click here!
On a personal note, I thank you for your prayers as I continue to heal. I look forward to seeing you soon!
Blessings,
Pastor Linda