Today We Stand Together on the Mountain

"...And another reason that I'm happy to live in this period is that we have been forced to a point where we are going to have to grapple with the problems that [people] have been trying to grapple with through history..."        

On the day before his assassination, the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his moving "I've Been to the Mountain Top" speech in support of underpaid and overworked Memphis, Tennessee sanitation workers. Standing before those assembled, he imagined traversing in time, witnessing historic change and engaging profiles in courage throughout the ages – always keeping his eye on the mission – overcoming injustice.

This past weekend, my community read a section from the Bible – the Torah – called B’Shalach – recalling the Exodus from Egypt and the harrowing moments leading up to the Israelites crossing of the Red Sea.? And, this year, the reading of this chapter falls on Dr. King's birthday. The timing is set by an ancient lunisolar Hebrew calendar. ?There are few coincides. Only converging events we struggle to understand. English translation of the text says:?“…As Pharaoh drew closer, the Israelites looked back and saw the Egyptians marching toward them …” ?But a better Hebrew translation of the intent of the word “closer” might be – and Pharaoh drew them closer. The deeper spiritual meaning of "closer," is that their collective experience having suffered injustice, slavery and fear of extinction, caused the Israelites to draw closer to each other as their oppressor drew nearer.?They united in a common purpose - their yearning for freedom.

It’s time that we draw closer.?We see around us racial inequity, health disparities, hunger, despair and disease. These are our generation's Pharaoh. It’s time to draw closer to reach a common conclusion that the status quo is unacceptable.?It’s time that our leaders work to unite the nation's political tribes to cross our Red Sea.?It is time we ask these leaders to think of solutions to our shared problems.?Dr. King was a practical leader of peoples and called upon those assembled in Memphis:?

“Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”

Communication is a collaborative bridge uniting communities – often diverse – around common understanding and path forward. ?Dr. King was a courageous pioneer for Black Americans’ equal rights.?He was a visionary inspiring all people to action.

Here is the closing paragraph in that moving April 1968 speech – words offered unknowingly as a sacrifice – as he stood on the Mountain:

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.