Happy Monday!
Today’s a special day for all who embrace peace, justice and nonviolence. In honor of Dr. King, let’s think about today’s word-of-the-week….
Sacrifice
August 28, 1963. More than a quarter-million people crowded onto the national mall in Washington, D.C. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stepped to the podium, introduced as “the moral leader of America.”
I’ve listened to that speech countless times,; it still sends chills down my spine.
The speech is known popularly for the iconic phrase I have a dream even though that entire portion wasn’t part of the prepared text.
His dream was incredible, but I’m struck by what he was willing to sacrifice to pursue it. He was beaten, humiliated, imprisoned, and finally assassinated. Through it all he held to his belief in nonviolence.
In this amazing speech he implored his followers, “In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”
Here’s Dr. King’s dream:
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
Here’s the entire speech. If you haven’t watched it recently, I encourage you to do so. (If you can’t see the video, click here.)
I’m working on my own dream for 2011. It’s insignificant compared to Dr. King’s vision, but I’m thinking that the size of the dream may not be as important as what we’re willing to sacrifice to make it a reality.
What’s your dream? What’s it going to cost you? Are you willing to pay the price?