Pastor dreams of unity, justice in divided nation
Sixty years ago I was a student at Pioneer Middle School. One of my favorite instructors was Mr. Robert Winters. As my English teacher, Mr. Winters affirmed my ability with words. He gave me an A+ on a term paper with a green cover that I wrote for him when our class was studying Greek mythology. It’s no wonder I saved it!
Neither Mr. Winters nor I knew at the time how much of my life would be devoted to stringing words together for other people to read. But I will forever be grateful to this man who believed in me and encouraged my efforts. Words have been my stock in trade as a pastor and as a freelance writer.
Another research project Mr. Winters assigned our class dealt with dreams and dreaming. Although I did not keep that term paper, I remember discovering the correlation between the depth of sleep one attains and their ability to dream. A person must attain a certain level of unconsciousness in order to visualize what we refer to as dreams.
This coming Monday, we honor the memory of a man who probed the unconsciousness of a nation which failed to recognize the injustices and prejudices that punctuated society.
Against the backdrop of racial inequality and boycotts, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of waking up to a new day.
He dreamed of a nation in which “liberty and justice for all” is not simply a nice sounding conclusion to our pledge of allegiance to a flag but a way of life.
His king-size dream was of a nation where individuals are not judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. He dreamed of a day when the marginalized of society would know the same freedom that the ancient Israelites tasted as they left Egyptian captivity for a promised land of milk and honey.
King, like I, grew up as a preacher’s kid. He went on to follow in his father’s footsteps and became a pastor. I did, too. He, like me, discovered God’s dream for humanity in the pages of the Old Testament.
One of my favorite passages in the Old Testament reveals God’s dream. It is found in Micah 6:8 … “He has shown thee, O mortal, what is good and what the Lord desires of thee, but to love justice, and do mercy and walk humbly with thy God.”
God’s dream, like that of King’s, calls a sleeping nation (be it ancient Israel or modern-day America) to put feet to their faith and actions to their words voiced in weekly worship. God’s dream focuses the Creator’s vision for His creation. It visualizes a world where those created in God’s image courageously embrace His character and reflect His values all the while humbly getting to know Him.
Because this year’s commemoration of MLK Day coincides with the inauguration of our 47th President, our nation is doubly poised to pause.
This Monday is an invitation to recall the dream of a man who died 57 years ago at the tender age of 39. It also is a day that calls us to pray for the one elected two months ago for whom humility does not come naturally. May we call on God to guide this newly elected leader of the free world even as we ask God to imbue Donald Trump with an ear to hear His heart.
And lest we forget, Monday is also a day for dreaming our own dreams. It’s a day to picture what we long to see our country become. I don’t know about you, but I’m dreaming that the divided states of America will find common ground in principles clearly articulated in God’s Word.
I’m dreaming that the One under whom our nation was birthed nearly 250 years ago will once again be revered as the source of justice, mercy and humility. And that the nation we call home will once again be known as the United States of America.
• The Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos is a former Naperville resident who writes about faith and family.