Today is when we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Perhaps the most influential leader in the civil rights movement of the 20th century.  The nation needed a civil rights leader to speak the truth boldly.  But, what separated King from others was that he was able to lead the movement towards equal rights through peaceful measures as opposed to violence.  King was that man and his leadership allowed the civil rights movement to advance more quickly in a decade than it had over the previous century.  On this day when we pause to remember King’s contributions, I challenge you to do two things today.  First, watch all or part of his famous “I Have A Dream” speech that painted a vision of what America could look like if we would live up to our creed that “all men are created equal.”

Secondly, I challenge you to read his “Letter from a Birmingham jail”.  This remarkable letter eloquently outlines how, when, and why civil disobedience could or should be used and discusses the concept of “just laws”.  It also is a call to others to take up the cause of civil rights and outlines from a Christian perspective why we need to do right over what is comfortable.   It will also let you know that his faith is what called him to action.  What lessons can we learn from him?

Jeremy