His son, Michael, Jr., his namesake, would also change his name to Martin Luther King, Jr.
There are many facts that I've come across this week as I peered into a life that seemed to have been touched by Elisha's bones; the skeleton encased by a cave where the dead, after coming into contact with the bones, came to life.
King attended Booker T. High School, where he was said to be a precocious student. He skipped both the ninth and eleventh grades, and entered Morehouse College in Atlanta at age 15, in 1944. He was a popular student, especially with his female classmates, but an unmotivated student who floated though his first two years. Although his family was deeply involved in the church and worship, young Martin questioned religion in general and felt uncomfortable with overly emotional displays of religious worship. This discomfort continued through much of his adolescence, initially leading him to decide against entering the ministry, much to his father's dismay. But in his junior year, Martin took a Bible class, renewed his faith and began to envision a career in the ministry. In the fall of his senior year, he told his father of his decision. (From Biography.com)
Most people do not know that Martin Luther King, Jr. had, in the beginning, deep questions about faith and religion. His search for God and spirituality was a true quest; the grail of his father's faith seemed to be out of reach and strangely, his father did not want him to enter the ministry. Perhaps this was due to the fact that those who are questioning faith don't necessarily find it in the day to day grind of taking care of the spiritual lives of others - sometimes it is quite the opposite. But young Martin encountered his faith in the place where the Living Word becomes living faith. In the Bible.
In the book Finding God, a Treasury of Conversion Stories, the editor relates the impact that the Word of God had on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and in its use and reflection, his last public words ring with tremendous praise and prophecy:
I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter now, because I've seen the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place, but I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will and he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over and I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land and I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!
Hours later, he was felled by the assassin's bullet.
How do the scriptures turn us? How do they make a difference and convert us from disbelief to belief? How do we find the words, like the desperate father who can't find his faith, 'Help my unbelief?'
This world is desperate for a new spirit of peace and patience, joy and encouragement, hope and faith. To see beyond the mountain of the world's discontent and view the Promised Land of which God assures us, is of utmost importance.
As Martin Luther King, Jr. sensed a convergence of faith and life through his own conversion to faith in the Way, Truth and Life, so we too can read through the scriptures, alone, but especially with believers, to see how a life a freedom is incredibly transformative for a community and individual.
Read through the Gospel of Mark this week, or the book of Philippians. Ask some questions about faith and life and I pray that God gives you eyes to see.
