Memphis, Martin, and Sadly More

James Howell wrote and shared the following recently —-

I got to Memphis a little early for my flight home from Mississippi, so I made 3 stops:

the spot where Tyre Nichols was fatally beaten by the police (and the nearby corner where he was first detained);

the Lorraine Motel, where James Earl Ray assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr.;

and the Mason Temple, where King preached his last sermon, ending with —-

“We’ve got some difficult days ahead…. 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.”

—- Today, all we can add is “How long, O Lord? How long?”