MLK Jr. Sunday, 2020
Preached 1/19/2020 at SouthWest UU in N. Royalton OH
By Rev. Meg Mathieson
Hi! It’s so wonderful to see everyone. I’m getting over a cold so I might sound a little nasally, but this too shall pass.
It’s good to know that this too shall pass, isn’t it? This cold shall pass, this weather shall pass, this argument I am having with my ex shall pass, this presidential administration shall pass.
We are all familiar with Ecclesiastes 3 -
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Let’s skip down a little......
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
Skipping a little more......
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
So is there really a time to hate? The Bible says there is a time when it is appropriate to hate. I’m not even going to touch war. Wow. But then, The Bible says a lot of things that we don’t necessarily agree with. Still… a time to hate?
This too shall pass, right?
We are about to celebrate the birthday of Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr once again in our yearly cycle and I wonder if racism will ever pass. Is this the time to hate? Sometimes it feels like it is.
UUs love to remember that Martin Luther King Jr spoke at the General Assembly in 1966.
In his historic speech, Dr King referred to the story of Rip Van Winkle. You might not remember the details of the story, but we all associate Rip Van Winkle with sleeping. That’s the important part for us right now. Rev. King pointed out that in the story, Rip Van Winkle slept for 20 years, during which he missed the American Revolution. Rip Van Winkle fell asleep under a British flag and woke up under an American flag. He woke up to freedom. Dr. King warned us, specifically warned Unitarian Universalists not to sleep through the revolution.
Dr. King’s words are always so moving, so I will share a bit of that speech here:
A social revolution is taking place in our world today. We see it in other nations in the demise of colonialism. We see it in our own nation, in the struggle against racial segregation and discrimination, and as we notice this struggle we are aware of the fact that a social revolution is taking place in our midst. Victor Hugo once said that there is nothing more powerful in all the world than an idea whose time has come. The idea whose time has come today is the idea of freedom and human dignity, and so allover the world we see something of freedom explosion, and this reveals to us that we are in the midst of revolutionary times. An older order is passing away and a new order is coming into being.
1966.
You and I have the benefit of hindsight.
Only a few short years after this speech, Rev. King was assassinated, he passed on, the cycle of his life ended. some might say he fell asleep.
And if Dr. King had slept for 20 years, and then another 20, and then about 14 more, he would be waking up today.
What would he say to us?
What would we say to him?
Dr. King offered a list of suggestions for us, to help us to “stay awake” or as my teenage daughter and her friends say “stay woke.” It’s probably incredibly uncool for me to say that. Interesting how the terminology doesn’t really change though, isn’t it?
Dr. King suggested that we embrace globalization. In 1966! What a forward-thinking man. He not only said to embrace globalization, but to bring it into our legislature, into our laws.
It feels like the opposite is happening now, but I have to hope, we all have to hope that the nationalistic, xenophobic direction that ours and many other governments seem to be turning right now, hope that it is what behavioral psychologists call an extension burst.
When my kids were little and I ignored a tantrum, the tantrum would often get worse before it got better. We all know that it is best to just ignore Westboro Baptist Church, or they will never go away. But sometimes they feel the need to try harder, get louder, before they give up.
There are some old, angry people with some old, angry ideas, who are exhibiting their fear in a great, nationalistic, “alt-right” extinction burst.
You may have heard of Daryl Davis, the black man who befriended KKK members, leading to the dissolution of the KKK in Maryland for a time. If you are not familiar, I recommend his book - He wrote a book in 1998 - this is a man after my own heart - you have to love the pun - called “Klan-destine relationships.”
The other day I heard Mr. Davis on NPR where he listed four tips on “how to argue.” And I just think that we are in a place right now where we need to listen to Daryl Davis! This African American man who was somehow able to change the hearts and minds of Grand Dragons, what did he do that was special? Well, for one thing, he went out of his way to reach out to people who he knew actively rejected and hated him. This harkens back to Dr. King’s prescription 54 years ago to embrace globalization, embrace others, embrace our neighbors.
So here are Mr. Davis’ tips on how to argue:
Tip 1: Do your research - gather your information, get an astute knowledge of the other person’s side before meeting them. Review it in your head, be as familiar with their position as you are with your own. because that way you pretty much know what to expect and know how to react. You might hear things that frighten you, you might hear things that make you angry, or make you sad, or hurt you, but these are words. And you go in there because that person has an opposing point of view; that’s what you’re looking for, that’s why you’re there interviewing that person, to find out why they think that way, why they wanna do these things.
Tip 2: “Invite them to have a conversation, not a debate.”
a debate is “I’m gonna make my point, you’re gonna make your point and we’re gonna fight it out verbally.” That’s a debate, where you’re gonna argue something. That tends to have them get their guard up. If you say, “Hey, I wanna have a conversation with you. I wanna understand why you feel the way you feel. I want you to convince me that I need to change my way of thinking, and I appreciate your sharing your views with me. I’m interested in how you feel.” That’s what a lot of people want, they wanna be heard.
They wanna be able to speak their mind freely, without fear of retaliation or somebody beating them over the head for their views or ramming their own views down this person’s throat. So give them that.
Tip 3: “Look for Commonalities.” For instance, you and I might both agree that we want better education for our kids. We might disagree on how to attain that, but we can find commonality. We want peace. We want justice. Find that commonality first.
As we focus more and more and find there’s more things in common, the things that we have in contrast, such as skin color, begin to matter less and less. The relationship begins to blossom into a friendship. That’s number three.
Tip 4: Keep talking “When enemies are talking, they’re not fighting.” They might be yelling and screaming and disagreeing and beating their fist on the table to drive home a point, but at least they’re talking. It’s when the talking ceases that the ground becomes fertile for violence, so you wanna keep the conversation going.
Are you seeing some Unitarian Universalism in this? To me, Mr. Davis’ advice and Dr. King’s advice sound very similar to our 7 principles.
This is not to say that truth is relative. I’m not saying that all opinions are equal.
There are some people out there in power with some very, very wrong ideas about how to achieve peace, justice, and liberty. But we can start by agreeing that peace, justice, and liberty are our common goals.
While taking a course on anti-racism at seminary, I learned that white people tend to focus on racism at an individual level rather than an institutional level. “I’m not racist. I help out, I go to marches, I have a black friend…” And while individual acts are of course important, we must not forget that racism is embedded, systemic, institutional part of our culture, and has been for hundreds of years. We are on a very long road.
And what Mr. Davis and Rev King have to say about this, it is very important: We are on a long road, and we must not stop.
Mr. Davis speaks about the patience needed for the work that he does. Some people have taken 20 and even 30 years to change their views, some never change.
Patience doesn’t mean sitting around... Be proactive, and don’t just sit around and talk with your friends who believe the way you do. Invite other people who have differences of opinion; invite them to your meeting, to your table. Learn from them, because while you are actively learning about somebody else, at the same time you are passively teaching them about yourself.
54 years ago, Rev Dr King told an assembled group of Unitarian Universalists that “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”
What we can learn about Black history and how to honor it as Unitarian Universalists is this: In the face of institutional racism, nationalism, xenophobia, etc we must stay awake - we do this by actively practicing both patience and perseverance. By letting those we disagree with learn about us while we listen to them.
“Prophets” by Clinton Lee Scott
Always it is easier to pay homage to prophets than to heed the direction of their vision.
It is easier blindly to venerate the saints than to learn the human quality of their sainthood.
It is easier to glorify the heroes of the race than to give weight to their examples.
To worship the wise is much easier than to profit by their wisdom.
Great leaders are honored, not by adulation, but by sharing their insights and values.
Grandchildren of those who stoned the prophet sometimes gather up the stones to build the prophet’s monument.
Always it is easier to pay homage to prophets than to heed the direction of their vision.
Preached 1/19/2020 at SouthWest UU in N. Royalton OH
By Rev. Meg Mathieson
Hi! It’s so wonderful to see everyone. I’m getting over a cold so I might sound a little nasally, but this too shall pass.
It’s good to know that this too shall pass, isn’t it? This cold shall pass, this weather shall pass, this argument I am having with my ex shall pass, this presidential administration shall pass.
We are all familiar with Ecclesiastes 3 -
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Let’s skip down a little......
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
Skipping a little more......
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
So is there really a time to hate? The Bible says there is a time when it is appropriate to hate. I’m not even going to touch war. Wow. But then, The Bible says a lot of things that we don’t necessarily agree with. Still… a time to hate?
This too shall pass, right?
We are about to celebrate the birthday of Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr once again in our yearly cycle and I wonder if racism will ever pass. Is this the time to hate? Sometimes it feels like it is.
UUs love to remember that Martin Luther King Jr spoke at the General Assembly in 1966.
In his historic speech, Dr King referred to the story of Rip Van Winkle. You might not remember the details of the story, but we all associate Rip Van Winkle with sleeping. That’s the important part for us right now. Rev. King pointed out that in the story, Rip Van Winkle slept for 20 years, during which he missed the American Revolution. Rip Van Winkle fell asleep under a British flag and woke up under an American flag. He woke up to freedom. Dr. King warned us, specifically warned Unitarian Universalists not to sleep through the revolution.
Dr. King’s words are always so moving, so I will share a bit of that speech here:
A social revolution is taking place in our world today. We see it in other nations in the demise of colonialism. We see it in our own nation, in the struggle against racial segregation and discrimination, and as we notice this struggle we are aware of the fact that a social revolution is taking place in our midst. Victor Hugo once said that there is nothing more powerful in all the world than an idea whose time has come. The idea whose time has come today is the idea of freedom and human dignity, and so allover the world we see something of freedom explosion, and this reveals to us that we are in the midst of revolutionary times. An older order is passing away and a new order is coming into being.
1966.
You and I have the benefit of hindsight.
Only a few short years after this speech, Rev. King was assassinated, he passed on, the cycle of his life ended. some might say he fell asleep.
And if Dr. King had slept for 20 years, and then another 20, and then about 14 more, he would be waking up today.
What would he say to us?
What would we say to him?
Dr. King offered a list of suggestions for us, to help us to “stay awake” or as my teenage daughter and her friends say “stay woke.” It’s probably incredibly uncool for me to say that. Interesting how the terminology doesn’t really change though, isn’t it?
Dr. King suggested that we embrace globalization. In 1966! What a forward-thinking man. He not only said to embrace globalization, but to bring it into our legislature, into our laws.
It feels like the opposite is happening now, but I have to hope, we all have to hope that the nationalistic, xenophobic direction that ours and many other governments seem to be turning right now, hope that it is what behavioral psychologists call an extension burst.
When my kids were little and I ignored a tantrum, the tantrum would often get worse before it got better. We all know that it is best to just ignore Westboro Baptist Church, or they will never go away. But sometimes they feel the need to try harder, get louder, before they give up.
There are some old, angry people with some old, angry ideas, who are exhibiting their fear in a great, nationalistic, “alt-right” extinction burst.
You may have heard of Daryl Davis, the black man who befriended KKK members, leading to the dissolution of the KKK in Maryland for a time. If you are not familiar, I recommend his book - He wrote a book in 1998 - this is a man after my own heart - you have to love the pun - called “Klan-destine relationships.”
The other day I heard Mr. Davis on NPR where he listed four tips on “how to argue.” And I just think that we are in a place right now where we need to listen to Daryl Davis! This African American man who was somehow able to change the hearts and minds of Grand Dragons, what did he do that was special? Well, for one thing, he went out of his way to reach out to people who he knew actively rejected and hated him. This harkens back to Dr. King’s prescription 54 years ago to embrace globalization, embrace others, embrace our neighbors.
So here are Mr. Davis’ tips on how to argue:
Tip 1: Do your research - gather your information, get an astute knowledge of the other person’s side before meeting them. Review it in your head, be as familiar with their position as you are with your own. because that way you pretty much know what to expect and know how to react. You might hear things that frighten you, you might hear things that make you angry, or make you sad, or hurt you, but these are words. And you go in there because that person has an opposing point of view; that’s what you’re looking for, that’s why you’re there interviewing that person, to find out why they think that way, why they wanna do these things.
Tip 2: “Invite them to have a conversation, not a debate.”
a debate is “I’m gonna make my point, you’re gonna make your point and we’re gonna fight it out verbally.” That’s a debate, where you’re gonna argue something. That tends to have them get their guard up. If you say, “Hey, I wanna have a conversation with you. I wanna understand why you feel the way you feel. I want you to convince me that I need to change my way of thinking, and I appreciate your sharing your views with me. I’m interested in how you feel.” That’s what a lot of people want, they wanna be heard.
They wanna be able to speak their mind freely, without fear of retaliation or somebody beating them over the head for their views or ramming their own views down this person’s throat. So give them that.
Tip 3: “Look for Commonalities.” For instance, you and I might both agree that we want better education for our kids. We might disagree on how to attain that, but we can find commonality. We want peace. We want justice. Find that commonality first.
As we focus more and more and find there’s more things in common, the things that we have in contrast, such as skin color, begin to matter less and less. The relationship begins to blossom into a friendship. That’s number three.
Tip 4: Keep talking “When enemies are talking, they’re not fighting.” They might be yelling and screaming and disagreeing and beating their fist on the table to drive home a point, but at least they’re talking. It’s when the talking ceases that the ground becomes fertile for violence, so you wanna keep the conversation going.
Are you seeing some Unitarian Universalism in this? To me, Mr. Davis’ advice and Dr. King’s advice sound very similar to our 7 principles.
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
This is not to say that truth is relative. I’m not saying that all opinions are equal.
There are some people out there in power with some very, very wrong ideas about how to achieve peace, justice, and liberty. But we can start by agreeing that peace, justice, and liberty are our common goals.
While taking a course on anti-racism at seminary, I learned that white people tend to focus on racism at an individual level rather than an institutional level. “I’m not racist. I help out, I go to marches, I have a black friend…” And while individual acts are of course important, we must not forget that racism is embedded, systemic, institutional part of our culture, and has been for hundreds of years. We are on a very long road.
And what Mr. Davis and Rev King have to say about this, it is very important: We are on a long road, and we must not stop.
Mr. Davis speaks about the patience needed for the work that he does. Some people have taken 20 and even 30 years to change their views, some never change.
Patience doesn’t mean sitting around... Be proactive, and don’t just sit around and talk with your friends who believe the way you do. Invite other people who have differences of opinion; invite them to your meeting, to your table. Learn from them, because while you are actively learning about somebody else, at the same time you are passively teaching them about yourself.
54 years ago, Rev Dr King told an assembled group of Unitarian Universalists that “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”
What we can learn about Black history and how to honor it as Unitarian Universalists is this: In the face of institutional racism, nationalism, xenophobia, etc we must stay awake - we do this by actively practicing both patience and perseverance. By letting those we disagree with learn about us while we listen to them.
“Prophets” by Clinton Lee Scott
Always it is easier to pay homage to prophets than to heed the direction of their vision.
It is easier blindly to venerate the saints than to learn the human quality of their sainthood.
It is easier to glorify the heroes of the race than to give weight to their examples.
To worship the wise is much easier than to profit by their wisdom.
Great leaders are honored, not by adulation, but by sharing their insights and values.
Grandchildren of those who stoned the prophet sometimes gather up the stones to build the prophet’s monument.
Always it is easier to pay homage to prophets than to heed the direction of their vision.