ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 15, 2023
Last night, Cypress Creek Christian Church hosted the EBONY event to celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is an event I have enjoyed every year, though the last two years it has been an online experience because of COVID. The Centrum was full last night, and people were so moved by the performances and offerings of so many. A young person named Ronnie offered his Award Winning Oratory on the topic of what Dr. King would think of our progress. Ronnie had this marvelous reoccurring line: “Dr. King expected progress, not perfection.” He used the line so well throughout his speech, and I think Ronnie was absolutely correct, including the implication that an inability to achieve perfection is not an excuse for a lack of progress. It doesn’t matter what part of God’s dream we might be referencing—healing, justice, inclusion, liberation, transformation—we probably won’t see perfection in our lifetimes, but God’s expectation of progress remains clear. There are times to pause and celebrate what has been done, and other times when we need a kick in the pants to help create something worthy of celebrating. Cypress Creek should be proud that we were able to host this marvelous event.
O God whose vision beckons us to action, we give you thanks for all the voices that announce your dream and seek to keep us all on task as we do the work of fulfilling the dream. Amen.
