"The Words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."
Greetings! On Monday, January 18, 2016 citizens of the United States will celebrate the 30th annual national holiday observance in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The national holiday is an occasion for remembrance and celebration of Dr. King's life and re-dedication to nonviolent social change in America and the world. It's supposed to be a time for thanksgiving, unselfishness, and rededicating ourselves to the causes for which Dr. King died.
Unfortunately, for far too many, the holiday has become just another day-off. A day with little meaning or purpose other than to sleep-in or shop. This is tragic because Dr. King's message is just as relevant today as it was 50 years ago. We need to heed his message about war, peace and love now more than ever.
So this weekend, just don't go shopping or take in a movie, but do something in honor of Dr. King. Attend a King Day worship service, volunteer to help the community or rededicate yourself to the causes for which Dr. King died. Here are some of Dr. King's words:
"To find the real cause of man's problems...we will have to look in the hearts and souls of men...The trouble isn't so much that we don't know enough, but it's as if we aren't good enough. The trouble isn't so much that our scientific genius lags behind, but our moral genius lags behind. The great problem facing modern man is that the means by which we live have outdistanced the spiritual ends for which we live." From "Rediscovering Lost Values," a sermon delivered at Second Baptist Church in Detroit, MI. 1954.
"In our collective lives our sin rises to even greater heights. See how we treat each other. Races trample over races; nations trample over nations. We go to war and destroy the values and the lives that God has given us. We leave the battlefields of the world painted with blood, and we end up with wars that burden us with national debts higher than mountains of gold, filling our nations with orphans and widows, sending thousands of men home psychologically and physically handicapped. This is the tragic plight of man." From "What is Man?" Written in 1959.
"If you want to be important - wonderful. If you want to be recognized - wonderful. If you want to be great - wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's your new definition of greatness." "The Drum Major Instinct" Sermon at Ebeneezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA 1968.
