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
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
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
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,
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.
3 comments:
Well stated! Very, very, vurrrrrr well-stated!!!
Each year, for the past 25 years (Happy Anniversary Dr. King Day!), I've racked my brain, searched my past, pondered my present & future, roamed the contours of my heart, pushed the poetic envelope in hopes summing up the effect of this man's presence on the planet. I do this all in an effort to say something Real & Honorable & Just & Meaningful & Honest & Memorable about Dr. King.
However, YOU, My Sista, have succeeded in doing this most officially, most elegantly & most eloquently. Thank you.
If Dr. King never existed, we, as a pissed off, tired & hurting collective, would've had to INVENT him!
Snatch JOY!
One.
A too!? I love listening to MLK. I have a collection of his speeches. I also have favorites...
Off the top of my head, the names may not be correct but I love "If I could go back in time". I believe I can repeat that speech word for word. I also like "civil disobedience" and "If I would have sneezed"
I've wrote a few posts on MLK. Many of which I've now stored outside my blog. But the following is one with a different flavor.
http://careycarey-carrymehome.blogspot.com/2010/08/glen-beck-martin-luther-king-and.html
Okay. . I have to be the one to bring the rain.
While I love MLK . . .he was not what I was expecting to see for Fine Man Fridays.
It's like opening a dirty magazine and finding your daddy. Instant dry.
That said . . .MLK is one of the greatest.
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