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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rev Grace Thomas

Good morning.

In March 1965, three large civil rights marches took place in Alabama, in the United States. 25,000 people walked to the state capitol building in Montgomery, where Martin Luther King delivered one of his most powerful speeches. It became known as the ‘How long, not long speech’

‘How long’ is a cry oft repeated by the psalmist. In Psalm 13, which begins with the words ‘how long oh Lord’ the psalmist recounts the journey he has been on before concluding with words that reveal how the hope of the Lord is able to break through, even in the darkest of times. ‘I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me’

Martin Luther King’s speech echoed this pattern. ‘We have walked through desolate valleys and across the trying hills’ he recounted. Yet, by the end of his speech, like the ancient psalmist, the words of truth and hope brought by faith in a steadfast God burst through: ‘How long?’ he concluded ‘Not long because: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord…His truth is marching on.’

Today, faced with situations of war and exile, the cry ‘how long oh Lord’ seems particularly apt. In crying out, we follow in the footsteps of those who have travelled before us, calling to a God who reminds us that we can cast our burdens onto Him.

Lord, we know you hear us when we cry out to you. With every step we take, may we be heartened by this and by the hope that comes from knowing that your light can never be extinguished, and your truth will prevail.

Amen