Have we changed at all in these past 50 years?  Is that mountainside ringing out freedom for all races and religions?  Are we still battling the hatred and anger against one another, rather than learning to live together as brothers?

When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke these words our country was consumed with racism.  The call for freedom went unheeded for a long time and the people came together to raise the call again.

Today we hear the cry, “black lives matter” or “all lives matter” and still the problem of racism fills our streets with protests, acts of violence on both sides and more of a rift than there ever was between law enforcement and the common man. Now it seems that evil has replaced good and being part of any service vocation is now frowned upon.

Respect for life is not limited to the black race.  We have problems with unborn lives not mattering.  There is concern for the homeless, the poor, the aging.  Christianity is taking a huge hit  and the “church” has become an extension of society by falling to popular social issues and looking for a place to be entertained rather than to be forgiven.

So many strides were made in the last half century towards reunite our nations and I’m sure Dr. King would be sad to see what is going on today. Freedom never comes without a cost.  Thankfully I have a Savior who has immersed Himself in all the yuck of this world and taken it to the grave to be buried at the foot of the cross.  Now there is true freedom – not because of what we’ve done, but what He did for the world.

To soar with the eagles no matter how high,
To reach all my goals or at least I can try,
To try and to fail but never give up,
to turn to my God to fill my cup,
To speak what I feel without fear of dissension,
To believe what I choose without intervention,
To live without fear and to follow my dreams,
To love and be loved with a peace that redeems.
The only thing needful for freedom that’s true
Is to love one another as Jesus loved you.

KATHY BOECHER©