What cause are you so passionate about that you would be willing to sacrifice your life for it? Some may say that they would sacrifice their lives for their loved ones, friends, or family members. Others have loftier causes for which they would be willing to sacrifice their life. Almost 60 years ago, a group of Americans, both black and white, boarded a Greyhound bus in Washington, DC, headed for New Orleans, LA. They determined to stand up to the segregation, bigotry, and hatred in this nation. Most of them were in their late teens and early twenties. Many of them were college students who had caught the vision of the non-violent movement of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They decided to become involved in the work of the Congress of Racial Equality, the organization behind the Freedom Rides.
Over three hundred of the freedom riders were arrested and jailed. Many of them were brutally beaten, but all of them had committed to non-violence and were determined to stay true to their commitment. The mission of the Freedom Rides would not have been possible had it not been for SCLC leaders in the south like Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Rev. C.T. Vivian, who passed away last week. In the summer of 1961 on one of those buses was a 21-year-old named John Lewis. He would later become a civil rights icon and congressman. He was laid to rest this week after fighting most of his life for equality and justice. When interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides, Congressman Lewis said when he got on the bus, he was prepared to die for the cause of freedom.
Is there any cause or purpose for which you would be willing to risk your life? Many of us would say that there is not. Yet, we risk our lives for things that have no real meaning or value. In this season, many people refuse to follow the simple protocols that have been encouraged by the health care professionals to help curb COVID-19. By not wearing a mask, people risk their lives and put the lives of others at risk because they do not want to accommodate the reality of the present. They do not want to change what they have become accustomed to, even if it means risking their lives. Many have died for the cause of ignorance and arrogance. Former presidential candidate and multi-millionaire Herman Cain died this week of COVID-19. He recently attended a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he publicly declared he would not wear a mask. Sadly, his friends and family members must now suffer the grief and pain of his passing because of his ignorance and arrogance. Amid a global pandemic, he decided to do something foolish and ill-advised.
When you decide that you are willing to sacrifice your life, let the cause you choose be worth the sacrifice. The Freedom Riders of 1961 made a decision based on their concern for the suffering of others. Many of them had already written wills before they boarded buses. They were so dedicated to their cause because they understood that the world they knew was an unjust society where hatred and brutality were the order of the day. They knew inequality was wrong and that far too many innocent lives had been lost because of the evil that was the norm, especially in the south. Hence, they decided to do what they could to make a difference in society and this nation. Their dedication and commitment brought about the desegregation of bus and train stations associated with interstate travel throughout the south.
For what cause would you be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice? For the first century disciples, it was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the Freedom Riders of 1961, it was the cause of justice, freedom, and equality. Today, we are called to “Stand up, Speak up, and Show up for Justice,” in whatever way we are able. Are you willing to be a witness for justice like those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us? We are living in an age when all of us need to decide where we stand. I made my choice a long time ago, and I reaffirm it each day. I will stand with Christ, and I am willing to sacrifice as he did, for what is right.
Standing for Justice,
Rev. Paul
