In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Such an intelligent, smart, passionate, dedicated man who risked so much. He got out of a comfortable situation in the north with much more freedom to go back to a segregated place. I could not imagine the hardship he went through, the fear, the injustice. I put some of his quotes in this blog for you to enjoy and be encouraged that change is possible. Be encouraged about the potential that God places in each person. God's guidance and love can transform the earth.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

The time is always right to do what is right.

Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.

Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.

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.

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.

No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they'd die for.

There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive.

Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts.

Keep feeling the need for being first. But I want you to be the first in love. I want you to be the first in moral excellence. I want you to be the first in generosity.

Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.

We must learn to live together as brothers perish together as fools.

If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

No person has the right to rain on your dreams.

We must in strength and humility meet hate with love.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

The more I learn about Martin Luther King Jr. the more I see a passionate man of God. He was perfect for the position precisely placed by God. He was an eloquent, educated leader who inspired those around him to form a strong community of broken people. Only God can cause that kind of transformation. Only people of God, loving enemies could bring the change. We still have a lot of injustice in our amazing country, but with God’s transformation we always have hope. You may not have a doctorate, be eloquent, but you can play a role in treating everyone around you with respect and spread light everywhere you go.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

<3 Jessica