I am a teacher, I don't have time to be depressed

I am a teacher, I don't have time to be depressed

I thought I saw Joe Hill walking over that hill with Congressman John Lewis last night. God has blessed me so many times by sending me role models of integrity.

On one of my trips to the Selma Jubilee, I was blessed with a two-minute conversation with my hero Congressman John Lewis at a Selma Gala. The Supreme Court has just ruled to weaken the Voting Rights Act. Everyone was depressed that year, but not Congressman Lewis. I ended up in line with him.

We exchanged greetings, and he said: "Why so sad young man"

I responded by saying how shocking the Supreme Court decision was. He said:
"Young man we don't have time to be depressed. He said, there is work to be done, let us do the work that needs doing.
I said, BUT...
Again, with his big, beautiful smile, he said: "Young man, you know there were 3 marches from Selma to Montgomery, 

The first two were met with brutal violence, 

On the first one, they fractured my skull, 

But I would not let bullies intimidate me, 

So I just got back up and did the work. 

I have been doing the work since 1965,

The work:

Lifts me, 

It is far from done, 

To be honest, 

I am not sure the work will ever be done, 

But doing this work,

Inspires me, 

Lifts me, and 

Sustains my soul,

Young man, 

I expect to see you march across that Edmond Pettus Bridge on Sunday with us." 

I was on the bridge with three other Uniting to Save Our Schools members when Congressman Lewis marched for the last time, just months before he would go on to glory. 

The day after the election, I think how many elections did not turn out Congressman Lewis's way. It never once let him stop doing the work. Elections don't get the work done, people gathering, organizing, and marching get the work done. I feel some marching coming. 

I shall honor God's blessing of those two minutes with Congressman Lewis, by doing the work that needs doing. The work inspires me, lifts me, and sustains me.

Call me Dr. Good Troubles,

Jesse The Walking Man Turner 

As long as I have music, I can go on, here is my walking song this morning link: One day when the Glory Comes Common John Legend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZOKvYcx_o