Monday, January 19, 2009

Dr. King: In the name of Love



Like many of the great social, political, and spiritual luminaries throughout history, Martin Luther King, Jr., showed us the way. And he shouted the secret from the mountain top. We just haven't been listening too well.

Here is some of his wisdom...

"A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan."

I pray that now we are moving out of the age of soft-mindedness.

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom."

I pray that one day we get that a healthy and educated citizenry is our best defense, offense, and specialty team.

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

I pray, too, that we are beyond the era of sincere ignorance. Look where that sincerity has led us.

But, then Dr. King also warns us of a dangerous trap...this one is so hard for me...

"Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness."

Sometimes it feels so good to "stick it to the man," but in the end I know it never pays to get resentful and point fingers.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that...I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

And finally, like all good teachers, he throws it all back in our laps...

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

What have we done lately??



1 comment:

Dave said...

I heard another quote which I thought was very good, and attributed to this great man.

"A man cannot be ridden if his back is not bent."