01/20/2026
An Essential MLK Day Reflection - Our children are watching
This celebration of Dr. King's life comes at a necessary and appropriate time. Tensions continue to be high at home and abroad. ICE vs. protestors. Liberal vs. Conservative. Conflicts in Venezuela, Iran, and with the EU. People dying, families torn apart, isolation skyrocketing. Cities divided, churches divided, households divided. Online echo chambers gaining ground as we play into the hands of the algorithms. Thinking we know more than we do and espousing finite, biased opinion as absolute truth.
Today I am led to a verse in the Bible that carries weight whether you are a Christian or not.
Micah 6:8 (paraphrased ESV) - "...what is required of you but to do justice, seek mercy, and walk humbly with your God."
Can these co-exist? Can we pursue justice, mercy, and humility simultaneously? This Scripture seems to boldly say that it is not only possible, but a requirement. Where is that in today's world? Let's go deeper and make it personal......how are you doing in this journey? How am I doing?
Justice - the quality of being fair and reasonable. the administration of the law and authority (when the law itself is not unjust). It is important to understand the standard we are using to determine what is just and unjust.
Mercy - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
Humility - the quality of having a modest view of one's value or importance. Realizing that one's finite experience creates certain biases and limitations to achieving absolute knowledge.
My aim this year is to press into the tension between these three commands in Micah and to be willing to be held to account when humanistic tendencies get in the way. I hope you will do the same. Love your neighbor as yourself regardless of how they may treat you, what they currently believe, or other factors. Love is a complex mix of presence, empathy, and truth. Truth is most impactful when it comes from relationship.
Why is this so important? Our children are watching. My son is watching. They are watching and learning from how we behave and treat one another. I don't want my son to grow up in the world we are currently building for him. Blatant outward racism may no longer be the norm like it was during Dr. King's time but many forms of hate, judgment, and cold-heartedness still run rampant.
Our Mission:
Fight passivity and complacency by advocating for justice.
Fight judgment and contempt by embracing mercy.
Fight ego and arrogance by clothing yourself with humility and meekness.
Help me be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
