Within the “I Have A Dream” speech of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was this phrase, “hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.”

Long ago, when I served on the Board of AB Women’s Ministries, we visited the King Center in Atlanta. I saw these words printed on a card. I purchased the card and placed it on my desk. It was on my desk through the years I served in the American Baptist Home Mission Societies as well my years with ABC of Nebraska serving as Executive Minister.

In every workplace, every home, and certainly in our country and world, we have moments of despair. Was my career filled with despair? No. But were there evil conditions I couldn’t set right; injustice I couldn’t resolve; social blindness where I couldn’t give sight? Yes. How does one cope? How do we even try when the mountain against us seems so large?

In the power of Christ, we hew out a stone of hope. Just take a step. Do one thing. Today.

Susan Gillies
Interim General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA