Streams of Mercy
Rep. John Lewis, who devoted his life to racial justice and equality, died last week. Often called "one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced," John Lewis dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls "The Beloved Community” in America. He has been called "the conscience of the U.S. Congress … a genuine American hero and moral leader who commands widespread respect in the chamber.” His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles has won him the admiration of many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the United States Congress.
Lewis, D-Ga., had served in the House of Representatives since 1987, after decades of work as an organizer and activist – serving as a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, organizing the March on Washington in lockstep with Martin Luther King Jr. and serving in the Atlanta City Council.
He was an orator unlike many others, his words galvanizing action for multiple generations. To honor his legacy, I share some of his most powerful quotes:
"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." – A tweet from June 2018
"I appeal to all of you to get into this great revolution that is sweeping this nation. Get in and stay in the streets of every city, every village and hamlet of this nation, until true freedom comes, until the revolution of 1776 is complete."– At the 1963 March on Washington
"Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.” - from his 2017 memoir, "Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America"
“We used to say that ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part. And if we believe in the change we seek, then it is easy to commit to doing all we can, because the responsibility is ours alone to build a better society and a more peaceful world.” ― John Lewis, Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future
“You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone—any person or any force—dampen, dim or diminish your light. Study the path of others to make your way easier and more abundant. Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates. Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don't be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice. And if you follow your truth down the road to peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see, then the poetry of all the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is finally at peace with itself.” ― John Lewis, Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America
May we be willing to get into “good trouble, necessary trouble” until “true freedom” comes; may we do our part “to create an even more fair, more just society.” Let us give thanks for the life of John Lewis, and pray for the day when that “more perfect union,” that “Beloved Community, is finally at peace with itself.”
Giving thanks for our brother John Lewis, for the life he lived, the words he spoke.
Elizabeth