I recently returned from a trip to Memphis with a church group. We ate at the #1 ranked rib joint in the world as rated by the Travel Channel and had lots of other funzies. One of the biggest things that stuck with me though was our trip to the Civil Rights Museum. At this museum you get to see the exact spot where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot, and you can go and look out of the window where the shooter was. It is a very real and intense experience.
I learned a lot about Dr. King on that trip. He wasn’t perfect, but was a great example. A few things really stuck with me:
Dr. King received threats on his life and family for years but he never quit, he wholeheartedly persevered…completed devoted. He believed so strongly in his cause that he looked passed the criticisms and threats on his life. Dr. King said that he would never make it to the age of 40….he said that, and he believed it.
The night before he was killed he spoke these words:
“I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you.
But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people,
will get to the Promised Land! And so I'm happy, tonight.
I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man!
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!”
These were his last public words spoken. It’s almost like he knew what was coming the next day.
He said that he would never make it to age 40…he died at 39.
The biggest point for me was that Dr. King stood by his cause through criticism, threats, and even to death. He NEVER backed down from his beliefs. Everything he said and everything he did, affirmed each other. I wonder if people will say the same things about me one day.
Would I really stand behind what I say?....through criticisms…threats…death…
…just a thought.
No comments:
Post a Comment