In 1853 Unitarian Minister Theodore Parker talked about the Moral Arc of the Universe. Many others including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr have echoed his comments in a much clearer statement, "The Moral Arc of the Universe is long but bends toward justice." Working in Mississippi this becomes a mantra, an image of hope in our darkest days, giving faith knowing that we are on an honorable journey. But even though we rest on this hope, we must remember that we are the benders of the arc, and though the degree may be small in our lifetime, we must not rest or sleep lest complacency consume us, we must not rest while in the fire. For we don't live at the end of the arc, we live in the middle.
Rev. Justin McCreary is minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson. He has served there for 6 years as their half time minister.