Today, as we all know, is Martin Luther King Jr Day and it is a day to remember this great American and to follow his example in serving our world and working towards the greater good of all. It is also a day to look into our own hearts.
Dr. King would have been 80 years old on January 15th, his actual birthday. I grew up in Georgia, east of Atlanta and his legacy was powerful in my life, through what I heard from my elders. And growing up a stone’s throw from Atlanta, King’s birthplace, I grew up aware of what he and many others did, so that I could live the life that I live today. When this day comes around each year, I think of Dr. King, but I also think of my parents and those who came before me. I know that I owe them a debt of gratitude. I try to be aware of how blessed I am. I’m glad that Dr. King lived and helped us see our common humanity.
It is amazing that this day comes on the eve of Barack Obama being inaugurated as our new president of the United States. This moment is powerful and I'm glad we all get to share this.
13 comments:
sometimes I find myself wondering how much better the would would have been if Dr King and Bobby Kennedy had not been killed.
Well said Dori and it is such great timing!
I wish I could be there to see it and be part of the energy of the day.
I agree with Mike. I always wonder about people who have died too soon and what they would have evolved into had they been able to live longer, Dr. King, Malcolm X, etc.
PS- Dori, please stop by, I have something for you. :)
There are great people out there still working hard to make the world a better place. We can all do our part as well. It doesn't take much.
Maybe it is all the hope in the air, but I find myself getting tearful. In a good way.
Mike,
My husband and I were talking about this the other day, and we wondered the same thing.
Elizabeth,
The timing is amazing and I'm with you...I would love to be there to soak up the sights and sounds of the day :)
Shae,
Yeah, I think that it's a thing that crosses many of our minds from time to time. We always wonder what potential was missed.
Thanks so much Shae for the award. It's so pretty :) It's great of you to think of me. I'll get it posted in a few days.
Kathy,
You are SO right. There are lots of great unsung people who are soldiering on everyday to make the world a better place. I love that we honor Dr. King on this day and it inspires us to do more to help. I am with you about us all doing our part on many levels. I want contributing to be a great part of my life for the rest of my life. I have done a few things in my life to help, but I want to do so much more :)
Jennifer,
I know exactly what you mean :) I am the same way. I get these waves of tears for the hope that so many are feeling right now and the vibe is palpable. It is great to have something to feel good about these days :)
Hello Dori! I tagged you for a meme, I guess it is a meme, I don't know, that I just made up after I had a dream that involved you tagging me! You can check it out here- http://www.theramblingsofcourtney.com/2009/01/printer-color-hue-meme.html
What a great tribute to Dr. King and what a great man. We are truly blessed for his courage and I wish he had the choice to still be here.
What a lovely post. What he accomplished before his death is so significant.
I think that is Barack Obama's most significant message, how much can be accomplished for others if people just try.
Great post! I dd not know you grew up in Georgia!
I of course also posted about MLK. He is a legend.
What saddens me most of all is we are still experiencing a deficit when it comes to visionaries who are dedicated to inspiring us without requiring us to loosen our purse strings every week.
In order to keep moving forward...we need inspiration. Dr. King had plenty of it to go around despite all the negativity which surrounded him daily.
Thankfully, our brand new President knows that in order for us to begin to heal...we need some INSPIRATION. We need positive images and words to soothe places where hands cannot reach.
I'm grateful that Dr. King walked this way. I'm thankful that Dr. King paved the way for Barack Obama.
His speeches always bring me goose bumps - so powerfull.
Cannot wait to watch Obama take the office today :o)
Courtney,
Thanks for the tag. Sounds interesting especially I was part of the inspiration :) I'll get it up in the next couple of days.
Health Nut Wannabee Mom,
He was truly great and you are right we all are blessed due to his courage. It is terrible that he was taken from us.
Anne,
It's so true...he did a lot with his short years and it continues to touch continuous generations. You're right...Barack Obama shows that we are all able to help others and it pays dividends in our lives as much as it does in the lives of those we help.
Regina,
Glad you liked the post :) Yeah, I was born and raised in Georgia. And you're right...MLK is a legend.
Jacqueline,
Amen...I think that in that crowd at the inauguration yesterday and in homes across the country and around the world, some new young visionaries were born. And I think that some vision was reborn in the grown folks too. This is my prayer.
You're right. I do think that Dr. King rose above the negativity and transcended it and his example still reaches out to guide us today. And President Obama is of this ilk for sure. Through being a leader and then helping us to see what we all can do is vastly valuable. I'm so encouraged :) Thanks so much for your great comment.
Ivanhoe,
Yes, his voice just pierces your heart and it reaches across the decades. When I hear him, I stop and can't help but listen :)
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