Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

Year 6-Day 15: Today, I am grateful for  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

January 15th  is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. What a brilliant man of passion who did his best to bring about peaceful change. His quotes are powerful. He knew the Word of God, he studied human behavior and educated himself as to how to best lead our country toward racial equality. 

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The content of our character... who were are in the dark and when no one is looking... should be how we are judged. He carefully wrote speeches that would bring people together behind that cause. I wonder how he would see us today. 

If you are new to daily gratitude, no politics. It is too decisive and that is not the purpose of this daily post. Dr. King's life is one to remember for all the good he did and the changes he sought to inspire.

I wonder, if he were alive today, how would he see what we see? How he would feel about the media and the social media? I'm not really looking for answers, but my opinion is that he would be horrified that words can be so carelessly puked out with no return address. As a great orator and a man of prayer, he wrote and rewrote... and then at times, let the Spirit lead. Opinions are so often fueled by feelings. Feelings can be unreliable. Dr. King tried to look beyond the current situation of his day to dream of ways to make real changes in his community and the nation. 

My personal favorite quote from MLK is this: 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

I am reminded of this scripture passage :

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” -1Samuel 16:7

The world can't always see our motivation, but God does. Dr. King wanted his children to have a better America. Don't we all? A land where character and education opens the doors for all capable, qualified and willing to work to reach the goal. 

We all come from different ethnic backgrounds in this great melting pot. Our food culture is a glorious example of the good things we hold on to as we melt together. 

Jesus reminds us again and again that we must love our neighbors. Even those different from us. 

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  -Luke 10:25-29

Jesus went on to tell the parable of the "Good Samaritan" to  a crowd who found it difficult to believe anyone from Samaria could be good. Yet, he was the only one willing to take his time to stop and help a man who had been robbed, beaten and left for dead. The priest and the Levite passed by, ignoring the man's plight. The Samaritan man tended his wounds and transported him to Jericho, paid for his stay in the inn and promised to return to make sure the innkeeper had enough to cover the wounded man's stay. 

Character is who we are in the dark. It is who we are when someone different from us is in need. It is speaking love instead of fueling discord. It listens to the stories of those from different places and spaces so that understanding grows. It is taking a stand against injustice or lending a helping hand. 

In the end... love always wins. 

Today, I am grateful for  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.