Hope to Hang My Faith On

WHAT’S ON MILES’ MIND

By Miles Jaye

Hope is the sum total of my desires. Expectations are the expressions of my beliefs. Both are closely embedded in a man named King. My faith, on the other hand, was born of a man named Christ. For some reason a distinction was made on the subconscious level between faith and hope. There, I concluded hope was the thing on which to hang my faith.

At an early age, I related to all that defined the King movement, most importantly, justice. Young and poor, I hoped for better days. I expected life to fulfill promises based on effort and excellence. King said I would one day be judged on those criteria along with character. That was his dream. That was my hope. My faith was firm and steadfast, therefore, I never lost hope.

Now that I’m older, I have no choice but to acknowledge what evil became of both men, King and Christ.

Now that I’m older, I have no choice but to admit that hope hangs heavy on my faith.

Now that I’m older, I must confess the damage to and in some cases the demise of my expectations.

I fight for my hope and faith is my choice of weapons.

I’m grateful to King for his eloquence, his visions and dreams. I regret, however, that I was unaware of the revolutionary that lived within him, something he had in common with the other man—Christ.

Had it been clear to me that, rather than the meek, mild-mannered persona assigned to both non-violent men, within them both was a raging fire matching their desire for love and justice.

Now that I’m older, my respect for and admiration of both men has increased exponentially. Knowing what I know now as an adult, I feel great affection for both men, I love them both. They are heroes.

Have you ever thought of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a hero? Have you ever thought of Christ as a hero?

These men are heroes as are others who by choice, fully aware of the dangers, championed the cause of love and justice for all. I spend many of my adult hours studying war and warfare, essential tools for the acquisition of justice. I wish I had known sooner, earlier in my life when I was fully vested with the powers and stamina of youth. I confess my fatigue. I recognize my steps are slow and my hopes hang low.

What should I make of a holiday that reminds me of hopes I once had but no longer enjoy? What to make of expectations I no longer expect and dreams I no longer dream. Is this holiday a humiliating and painful reminder that no matter what intellect, skill sets, credentials or character I possess, Black, Negro, Colored, African American is seen first and foremost by those who keep and bank my civil and human rights in accounts for which I’ve never had the correct account numbers.

In spite of efforts to disparage his name, yet another similarity with the other man I associated with King,

I still love the man, in fact, I love both men. May King’s legacy forever fill our hearts with hope for love and justice, just as a love of Christ will forever endow us with the faith upon which to hang those hopes.

Peace, love and blessings!

Website: www.milesjaye.net

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Email: milesjaye360@gmail.com