MSI Press Blog

  Every January, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — not just with quotes and commemorations, but with a call to action: make it a day on, not a day off . The MLK Day of Service invites us to roll up our sleeves and serve our communities, to embody the justice we so often admire from afar. But service, like justice, is not a one-day event. It’s not a photo op or a resume booster. It’s a posture. A practice. A way of being in the world that says, “I see you. I care. I’m willing to be inconvenienced for your dignity.” Dr. King didn’t just preach about love and justice — he lived them. He understood that service was not sentimental. It was strategic. It was disruptive. It was a way to reorder society toward equity, not just soothe its conscience. So what does that mean for us? It means that picking up litter or volunteering at a food bank — beautiful as those acts are — must be part of a larger rhythm. It means asking not just “How can I help?” but “What systems need changing so...

  (The divine works in mysterious ways. I was looking at the mountains this morning. I don't know exactly what I was looking for, but I thought that was the place to look. And then this came up in my memories. It was the first piece I had published in a newspaper following the book [ A Theology for the Rest of Us ]. Besides the comforting thought, I had the distinct impression the divine was stifling a laugh.) When young children are hurt or sad, they want a kiss to make it better. Or a hug. Yes, hugs can work well, too. And ice cream. Ice cream is the best. As adults, however, we know that whatever the injury or problem, kissing it is not going to make anything better. It is ironic that there is so much pop psychology advice that, especially in times of crisis, we need to connect with our inner child. Idyllic notions of childhood aside, the truth is that childhood is often about feeling powerless and ever so small. There is a reason why children are so taken with dinosaurs. Dinosa...