Outside the Lorraine Motel and near the spot where the bullet that killed Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. originated, I saw something I recognized. Someone has placed gourd birdhouses together on a string. Last summer we grew these type of gourds in our home garden. You must water and nurture the vine on which these grow, and when they mature you hang them to dry. Mold forms on them as they dry, then the outside of the gourd is scraped to allow it to dry even more. Eventually you can drill a small opening, remove the inside material and they are ready for use! The small opening helps protect the birds from predators. They are safe, even in the midst of danger. Considering that this spot is the place Rev. Dr. King Jr. was killed, this does not feel like a safe place, yet his work provided safety for you, me and so many others.
“Lord, help us to live self-sacrificing lives that create help and safety for others, even in the storms of life”
In Jesus Name,
Amen