Marching Band

Have you ever been in a marching band? I was mesmerized during the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day by the High School, College and Armed Services Marching Bands from all over the country. Marching in step, in sync, polished and playing a song while marching. What a great way to start the New Year!

They (whoever “they” are...) say that sometimes we might “March to the beat of a different drummer.” Maybe we don’t go along with the crowd. Maybe we practice a different belief system or interpret that which is considered normal with a slightly skewed view.

What do we do with those that march to the beat of a different drummer? So their cadence is a bit off from mine. So their stride is longer or shorter than mine. What's important is that they're marching!.

Marching in a parade is sometimes a powerful statement of beliefs.

Sometimes standing on the curb watching the marching band or the parade go by has stronger implications than if I was in the parade itself.

Marching came to Montgomery, Alabama in the month of March, 1965. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama, the State Capitol. The March took 9 days and the marchers were protesting Voter Rights violations along with the killing of Jimmie Lee Jackson – a 26 year old deacon of the St. James Baptist Church in Marion, Alabama who was protesting the violation of his civil rights to register to vote.

I made a phone call yesterday and the man on the other end picked up the phone and announced his name with the greatest of ease. I told him who was calling and we both laughed at the joy of reconnecting. A self-described “white boy” from Connecticut, he came to the University of Dubuque in the mid sixties to play football.

What we talked about for over thirty minutes was his participation in the March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. We talked of the famous Southern Hospitality, the Alabama humidity, the utter poverty of the African American population in Alabama and he recounted the mean, angry white folks who stood along the parade route shouting their obscenities. He and three other “white boys” from UD were well protected by the African American community and they were housed with the greatest sense of love and welcome along the route. Marching meant standing up for the Constitution and for our creator God who created all people equal in His sight.

My iWitness...

What marching band do I march in? What parade am I supporting? What do I believe in?
What am I willing to risk to stand up for what I am most passionate about?

I believe it was the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said,
“Life isn’t worth living until you have found something worth dying for.”

Who or what is the drummer in your life?
Can you hear the drumbeat that is calling you to march?

In the year ahead where will we find you? Curbside or Marching?

Jesus was in a parade once. It didn't last nine days. It barely lasted five days. Most of those curbside were cheering his name: "Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed be the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" The cheers didn't last long before they became angry and yelled obscenities.

He knew what was at stake and he knew where the parade route ended. You were at stake.
The parade route ended when he was staked to a cross.

I love this verse from Luke 9: "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he (Jesus) set his face to go to Jerusalem."

Jesus heard the drumbeat of the Father's will and set his face to go to Jerusalem and began... to march.

Dear Lord,

You are not ashamed of us! Empower us to not be ashamed of you when we hear Your drumbeat calling us to march, to stand up, and follow your heartbeat…

And that’s my iWitness…Laugh often and Fear Not!
David!