Monday; January 21


          It is hard for me to believe that it was over fifty years ago that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.  There are fewer and fewer of us who recall April 4, 1968; but it is a day that has had an impact on our nation.  It might be nice if we could say that the life of Dr. King completely galvanized a nation – but, that wouldn’t be true because even the impassioned words of the man often fell on some deaf ears.  Wouldn’t it be great to say that Dr. King’s death brought us all together in unity, but alas, that would be fantasy as well because even decades after his death we still struggle with racial inequity, bigotry and division.  In some ways it might be disappointing to say that the life, death and philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. has returned empty, but thankfully that isn’t true either.  We have not built a perfect edifice of peaceful co-existence on the foundation of the Civil Rights movement from Dr. King’s era, but we are making progress.  No, we are nowhere near where we need to be, but we are closer than we where we were in the 1960s ... and way ahead of what was going on in the 1860s.
          As I reflect on the life of Dr. King I am reminded of the words of the New Testament, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Galatians 6:9).  When it comes to the topics of love, peace, unity and equality the only way we will lose is if we give up.  If we improve each one of our relationships, if we make progress in each year, if we keep focused on moving forward in each generation, things will get better.  We cannot give up, we must not give up!  If we keep doing what’s right and good and just – we will make a difference.
Think About It!

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