By Rev. Dr. Michael Carson, Contributing Writer
You are watching a dark blue star-lit sky with the camera panning down to a scene of people of all backgrounds interacting together “as one.” A voice (in a Rod Serling dialect) speaks, “Portrait of a community where everyone (while being diverse) interacts together focused on common goals and issues embracing each other. Oh, by the way, you have just happened to make a ‘home visit’ to the ‘Salvation Zone!’”
In 1963, Fred Rogers—an ordained Presbyterian Minister–“birthed” what is still known as Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. In a world that is sometimes unsure, unstable, uncaring, and unsympathetic, wouldn’t it be excellent where everyday embraced the overall sentiment behind Ice Cube’s song “It Was a Good Day?”
Sometimes, life can be rough. Still, God has not abandoned you and God still loves you! Sometimes, the world can be very hurtful. God invites the hurt person to be a member of the greatest caring relationship ever by saying, “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). Today, I encourage the down-hearted to keep looking up! Believe that God is still in control. Sometimes, “bad things happen to good people.” The answer is not throwing up your hands in defeat or retaliating.
Minister Thomas Kyles shared, “How you treat people has a long lasting effect. Your influence can either be for good or bad. People will follow you based on this fact!”
Matthew 7:12 says, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” It is a command based on Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. First Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.”
As the camera pans upward into a dark blue star-lit sky there is a final commentary for today’s entry, again in Mr. Serling’s voice, “Impossible you say that our world could be totally together in peace? Who knows? But one thing is for sure. Let’s continue praying for and working towards what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. entitled “The Beloved Community!”
“Listen” to the immortal lyrics of a well-cherished song embodying the reality of unity in the community, “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor, Would you be mine? Could you be mine? It’s a neighborly day in this beautywood, A neighborly day for a beauty, Would you be mine? Could you be mine? I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you, I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you. So let’s make the most of this beautiful day, Since we’re together, we might as well say, Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t you please, Won’t you please, Please won’t you be my neighbor?”
The Rev. Dr. Michael Carson is the pastor of Coppin Chapel AME Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is the founder of Cycleinspiration: A Personal & Professional Development Ministry. He may be reached at carsonvision@acd.net.
