Pillars of Hope and Justice

By Dr. Tim Hallman

60 years ago to the date, June 5, 1963, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Fort Wayne, his only time to be in our city, calling our citizens to nonviolent resistance. The six Pillars of Hope and Justice commemorate his visit, his presence, his message, his vision, which is now ours, the aspiration for a Beloved Community. On Monday June 5 his son, Martin Luther King III returned for the dedication next to the speech site. Each of the six pillars include words from his Fort Wayne speech and also symbolize his six pillars of nonviolent resistance. They also evoke imagery of papyrus reeds, drawing on the text in Scripture where God promises…

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” [Isaiah 42:1-4NIV]

May we be the servant-leaders, in the steps of Christ Jesus, becoming pillars of hope and justice, writing a new chapter for our Beloved Community. My YMCA office is next to this beautiful work of art, and it’ll be inspiring me each week in my prayers and striving to live out the Y mission everyday for all.