Fine Man Friday... A Drum Major

I wanted to title this post The G.O.A.T... because my Fine Man Friday is one of the G.reatest O.rators of A.ll T.ime.  I have read all and have listened to most of his speeches and his sermons... I love them, absolutely love them all.  Sitting in church 52 Sundays a year (well almost 52) and some mid-week services too, I hear plenty of sermons.  Some of them are soul stirring, soul reviving and some of them ...

But what I love and admire is that this man dedicated his life to ministry... the ministry of service, of encouragement, of unity, of equality, of hope.


I heard "The Drum Major Instinct" sermon years ago.  Not sure exactly when or who the blogger was who posted it yet it rings true today.  The Drum Major Instinct can lead to tragedy, particularly when it comes to relations... political, racial, economical... And recently we've seen The Drum Major Instinct at work... "I must be first." "I must be supreme." All the while spewing hatred and violence.

That's one facet... but should anyone choose to exercise their Drum Major Instinct, they should listen or read the words of a King...

Martin Luther King Jr.

I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., 

tried to give his life serving others.

I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr.,

tried to love somebody.
I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. 
I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry.
And I want you to be able to say that day that I did

try in my life to clothe those who were naked.
I want you to say on that day that I did 

try in my life to visit those who were in prison.
I want you to say that I 

tried to love and serve humanity.
Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, 

say that I was a drum major for justice. 

Say that I was a drum major for peace.  

I was a drum major for righteousness. 

And all of the other shallow things will not matter. 

I won't have any money to leave behind. 

I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. 

But I just want to leave a committed life behind.

 

And so he did.