Good Wednesday morning, good pilgrims of The Epiphany Season. Today is the 96th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., born on this day in Atlanta, GA (1929). He is best known for his work as a leader during the civil rights movement and his commitment to nonviolence.
I don't know about you, but today I need to sit down and shut up and listen to his words rather than my own. Now, more than ever, I need that stone of hope he talked about because today, 5 days before the inauguration of a convicted felon, a narcissistic, self-confessed sexual predator, and an adjudicated rapist, I feel caught on a rising mountain of despair.
In the days to come, may we all strive to reach the "majestic heights of moral maturity." God knows we're going to need it.
On April 4th, 1967, King delivered a speech called "Beyond Vietnam," in which he strongly denounced America's involvement in the Vietnam War. He was concerned that the war was recruiting poor and minority soldiers, that it was draining resources from much-needed social programs at home, and that it was an unjust war anyway, targeting the poor people of Vietnam.
He said, "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."
Throughout the next year, he continued to speak out against the war, and said that the civil rights movement and the peace movement should come together for greater strength. He began a "Poor People's Campaign" to fight economic inequality.
On April 4th, 1968, exactly one year after his first anti-war speech, King was assassinated while he was standing on the balcony of his Memphis motel room. He was preparing to lead a protest march in solidarity with garbage workers who were on strike.
He knew of the dangers. He said, "If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."
These words are taken from his last speech.
"Strangely enough, I would turn to the Almighty, and say, "If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the 20th century, I will be happy."
Now that's a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land; confusion all around. That's a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century in a way that men, in some strange way, are responding."
"Men, for years now, have been talking about war and peace. But now, no longer can they just talk about it. It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it's nonviolence or nonexistence. That is where we are today."
"Now, what does all of this mean in this great period of history? It means that we've got to stay together. We've got to stay together and maintain unity. You know, whenever Pharaoh wanted to prolong the period of slavery in Egypt, he had a favorite, favorite formula for doing it. What was that?"
"He kept the slaves fighting among themselves. But whenever the slaves get together, something happens in Pharaoh's court, and he cannot hold the slaves in slavery. When the slaves get together, that's the beginning of getting out of slavery. Now let us maintain unity."
"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop."
"And I don't mind."
"Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!"
"And so I'm happy, tonight."
"I'm not worried about anything."
"I'm not fearing any man!"
"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!"
I hope something good happens to you today.
Bom dia.
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