Wisdom from Dr. King

Banner from last year’s MLK march in Oakland

Dear Lakeshore,

Between wars oversees and militarism in our country, the United States continues to be “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today,” as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prophetically preached in his “Beyond Vietnam” speech at the Riverside Church in 1968. And our work of bearing witness, raising our voices in protest, and offering what we can toward to moving our country in the direction of beloved community are as needed as ever. In truth, it feels like our work right now is more focused on holding evil at bay and preventing things from deteriorating more rapidly than those in power are pursuing. Yet when I feel despair closing in, I’m reminded of Dr. King’s words from his address at Spelman College in 1960:

“we must keep moving. If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving.”

These words will be an integral part of my sermon on Sunday, titled “For Such a Time As This,” with the Scripture text Esther 4:9-17. We must keep moving toward a day when the evils of war, racism and poverty cease to plague our country – even when our efforts feel insignificant against the powers that be. For I choose to believe, like Dr. King shared when he accepted his Noble Peace Prize, that:

“unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. I believe that even amid today’s mortar bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. ”

When times are hard, let us continue to draw strength from those who have led the way toward creating a better country for all who dwell within its borders.

There will be another MKL march on Monday in downtown Oakland from 11-3. Let me know if you’d like to join me there.

With hope,

Pastor Allison

LABC contingent at the 2025 MLK march in Oakland