As I sit down to write this reflection, it has only been a few days since the federal holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his birthday. In my experience there is little cultural awareness or specific activities around this event most years other than the closure of government offices and banks.

I wonder why this year more was not made of this scheduled day of recognition given the other events occurring at about the same time. Both were significant and historical expressions of American politics (remember, I use the word “politics” to refer to the work we all do to determine how we are to live together).

I also wonder why those of us who claim to be part of Christian community living out the gospel proclaimed, taught and lived by Jesus of Nazareth, did not plan special events in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. After all, he was and remains such a profound example of what it looks like to live out the good news of God in Christ.

I believe it is safe to say that our world is faced with many challenges. There are wars, natural disasters, areas of famine and political unrest. Not only is this true today, but in relative terms, that was true for the people of Palestine in Jesus’ day as well.

It is tempting to throw up one’s hands in the face of these realities but there must be a better alternative. I believe the story of the Gospel, and the power that it brings, can point us toward a better way.

When Jesus sought to face the issues of his time, he gathered together associates and went to the suffering and marginalized people. He helped them understand that they were valued and loved by demonstrating it with his own life.

As his followers began to experience and share love, care, respect, generosity and forgiveness in the early faith communities, they found the joy of a simple but profound way of being and living. Their greater world was not changed in a day, but a way forward and hope became clear.

This was true as well for those who followed King and the many other leaders of his time that sought to seek freedom from oppression from first racial prejudice and subsequently economic inequality. Some progress toward those goals was made, but there is still much work to do. Hope, however, still abounds.

Ultimately, what makes a difference is people coming together and finding common ground. We all want our basic needs met. We all want to be safe. We all want the opportunity to work and live in peace. In pursuit of these things we have a choice. We can attempt to gather these things on our own, or we can come together and help each other gain them. I suggest the latter approach is not only an American ideal but also the way of love, the way of Jesus — the gospel.

Thus, whatever the challenge before us, whether global or involving our beloved community of Evanston/Uinta County, let us move forward together. Especially in this current “political” season with strong feelings threatening to overcome our sense of community, let us keep the well-being and needs of the other in mind as we work together to find solutions to the various presenting issues.

Let us continue to envision a better, fuller life for everyone as we struggle and strive to move forward. Let us dream with Martin Luther King Jr., of a time when the color lines will have been erased and our children and grandchildren all live and play together in peace, harmony and joy.

Let us dream with God of a realm we make together of plenty for all, with the peace that passes all understanding and joy that comes from blessed community.