Keeping the Dream Alive
by Michele Husfelt
Each year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day invites us to pause and remember a man whose faith shaped his courage and whose hope continues to challenge our hearts. Dr. King did not simply dream of a better world; he believed deeply that God’s justice and love could transform it. Rooted in Scripture, his message still speaks clearly into our lives today.
One of the verses that guided Dr. King came from the book of Amos: “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). These words are not passive or gentle. They call for movement, consistency, and action. Justice is meant to flow, not trickle. Righteousness is meant to shape how we live, how we speak, and how we love.
Dr. King’s dream of unity has not yet been fully realized. We see this when division feels loud, when compassion feels scarce, and when fear seems to have more influence than grace. Yet the unfinished nature of the dream does not mean it has failed. It means it is still alive and still calling us forward.
Keeping the dream alive begins in ordinary, everyday choices. It starts when we slow down enough to truly see one another. It grows when we choose kindness in tense conversations and humility when we would rather be right. Loving others in today’s chaotic world requires intention. It means extending grace even when it feels uncomfortable and choosing peace even when the culture around us thrives on conflict.
As Christian women, we are uniquely positioned to live out this calling. We influence families, churches, workplaces, and communities. Our words can heal or harm. Our actions can build bridges or deepen divides. When we choose love, we reflect Christ to a watching world that desperately needs hope.
Dr. King’s message is just as relevant today as it was in the 1960s because the human heart still longs for dignity, belonging, and justice. The gospel reminds us that true change flows from transformed hearts. When we allow God to soften us, teach us, and guide us, we become part of the answer to the prayer of Amos.
This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, may we remember that the dream is not preserved only through speeches or holidays. It lives on when we practice mercy, pursue justice, and walk humbly with our God. May we let justice roll through our lives, our relationships, and our communities. And may we keep the dream alive by choosing love, again and again, in a world that needs it more than ever.