John Lewis

Preaching to Chickens

As a boy, John Lewis used to preach to chickens. Here’s what he said about that experience compared to addressing Congress. “I say now, when I look back on it, some of these chickens would bow their heads. Some of these chickens would shake their heads. They never quite said ‘Amen,’ but they tended to listen to me much better than some of my colleagues listen to me today in the Congress, and some of those chickens were a little more productive. At least they produced eggs.”

And let all us chickens finally say “Amen.”

Lewis on The Movement

“It’s hard to believe that in a short time, that we have come so far as a nation and as a people. When you look back, the year that Barack Obama was born 50 years ago, black people and white people in the American South couldn’t sit together on a bus or on a train or in a waiting room. And we changed that.”

And let all of us who were there then, but did or said nothing, say, “Thank you.”

“Good Trouble”

“Sometimes change calls for a little trouble.”

Let all we who have played it safe for so long ask, “Is it too late for me?”

“Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don’t be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice.”

Good Man Gone

And who’s left behind? Some folks who want to do more than lay a few eggs, I think. I’d like to be one of them. You?