“But as I continue to think about the matter, I gradually gained a bit of satisfaction from being considered an extremist. Was not Jesus an extremist in love? – “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them the despitefully use you.” …So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or will be extremists for love?” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Letter from Birmingham Jail)
In the summer of 2019, my family visited the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. This historic church was the first black church organized in Birmingham in 1873. In the early 1960’s the church was a place where many civil rights meetings took place. It became the headquarters for organizing the work of much of the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham and Alabama. Great leaders, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. often spoke from the pulpit. From this Church, the United States would experience significant change.
Sadly, it was a racist, violent act that put the name of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in every home in the United States. On Sunday, September 5, 1963, a bomb exploded outside of this church. This act of terror killed four young girls and wounded 22 other people during the Sunday school hour. It was a tragedy the rocked the city and Birmingham and the world. This terrible incident helped to turn the hearts and eyes of the world to the events occurring in Birmingham.
The church was restored because of generous donations that poured in from around the world. Later the park across the street, now known as the Kelly Ingraham Park, was redone to memorialize these four young girls and all who marched for freedom and justice.
As we stood in that park, I was overwhelmed by the history that was right in front of us. The park was beautiful. The attention to detail helped to recount and celebrate the work that was done to overcome the racial injustice in Alabama and the United States in the 1960’s. What we did not realize was the detail that went into the stone that made the walk that surrounds this large park. It was brick of different color. Specifically, red, yellow, black, brown, and white brick and stone was used to make the sidewalk. It was a work of art that spoke a timeless truth. This sidewalk serves as a reminder to all who came to this historic Church and park that all who come there are children of God.
That day I was reminded that God has created and loved every one of us. It is God’s love that should compel us to treat one another with kindness, respect, and love… the same love that God has shown to us. Hate has no place in our life of faith. God is love. We are God’s children. Let us love one another as God has loved us.
“Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red, brown, yellow
black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children
Of the world”
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
