Joseph E. Lowrey, native of Huntsville, Alabama, and leader in the civil rights movement along side of Martin Luther King Jr. closed his prayerful remarks at the 44th presidential inauguration with challenging words. They evoked laughter and then a wave of amens. Lowrey called for the country to work for a day “When Black will not be asked to get in back; when Brown can stick around; when Yellow will be mellow; when the Redman can get ahead man; and when White will embrace what is right!” He then summoned all who will do justice and love mercy to say amen! He stole the show and produced the only grin to surface on president Obama’s face during these historical and somber proceedings. Some may take umbrage to his somewhat subtle reminder that a nation unified under God should strive for racial, social and economic equality but Lowrey challenges our faith to seek justice and love mercy! Behind the small town Methodist preacher’s message is the prophet’s voice, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).” That is indeed, what must be embraced by all.
So, what about the challenge to do what is right? I suggest this is more than a call to social justice or a cease and desist order on bigotry but rather a call to walk humbly with our God! I love the old rabbinical story that explained the curious passage in Genesis 5:24 (“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away”). According to the rabbis, Enoch one day was walking with God and God told Enoch that they had gone too far for Enoch to make it back home and so he should come home with God! Walking with God is more about trust and relationship than it is about rules or expectations. Walking is the perfect metaphor for life because it cast the image of direction and agreement. That is, I’m going where God leads me and I trust that GDS (God Directed Steps) is better than GPS. So, as for me and my household we will humbly walk with God!
One might raise the objection that such is fine rhetoric and a carefully crafted metaphor but what exactly do you mean by humbly walking with God? That’s a fair question and I think it brings us back to embracing what is right. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). Walking humbly with God is embracing the source of all that is good and refusing to let go! Let us all embrace what is right! -DAN
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