Resonance

October 15, 2008 will be a landmark day in my life. I had the incredible privilege of sitting across the breakfast table ( in the University Club in Jackson,Ms.) from a great American heroine. It was one of those unique moments that you could never script. The Children's Defense Fund was sponsoring the event and Marion Wright Edelman was the guest speaker. The room was filled with quite an eclectic crowd. To my left was Dr. Frances Lucas of Milsaps College and to her left was Kamakazi (rap singer). But right across from me was Marion Wright Edelman.

Have you ever felt like you were in the presence of a prophet? That's how it felt. Her passion and relentless focus on children was breathtaking. Many of the people in that room had been forever formed or transformed by this woman. These were her children. She spoke with such profound simplicity. Her message was redundant..."Family is the crucible of the future". Her litany of challenges to us was compelling. Her call was for us to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren. The most stinging indictment was for us (community of faith folks). She looked right at me and said, " the faith community has to stop letting the culture shape it and must begin to shape this culture". It took my breath away.

The welfare of our children is not a political issue ,even though we need legal protection for our most venerable citizens, it is a spiritual issue. What are we doing to "transform the world" for our children? In this season of Children's Sabbath
are we making the right statement about the value of children to God?