We started out at MLK memorial. Then walked to FDR. Then on to Jefferson.
At each stop, Andrew and I played a game. We read each quote and tried to name the historical context. Then he picked his favorite quote from each person and I took his picture with it.
For MLK, he chose:
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. "
The quote stayed with me as we continued to walk, read and reflect on 250 years of our nation's history. What decisions we collectively made as a nation in times of challenge and controversy. There were moments of moral courage. And moments where the easy road was taken. Moments of living up to the ideals of our nation and moments of failing to.
As I thought about what I might write for the blog tonight. I thought about the palm Sunday parade. The cries of hosanna turned to cries for crucifixion.
It was a time where people wanted Jesus as a king. They wanted the kingdom he preached. But in the moment of challenge, they could not stand up for it.
Peter, so sure he was ready to die with Jesus, denied having anything to do with him.
And Jesus, knowing humanity wasn't ready for his kingdom, laid down his life showing us the path to it.
God meets us in our moral failure.
And holds us and points us towards courage.
The is a grace wide enough for Peter and the crowd that shouted crucify him. Wide enough for slave holders and residential school teachers. Wide enough to lift us up out of moral failure.
Jesus taught repentance.
And he taught forgiveness.
Even in his last breaths.
He invites us to turn away from moral failure. He invites us to release ourselves from bitterness against those who wrong us. Even those who seek to destroy us. He invited us even as he hung on a cross.
He restored Peter.
He restores us all.
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