When I think about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I’m struck by the selfless sacrifices he made in his relentless pursuit of equality for all. A bold leader who used his words and nonviolent resistance to advocate for civil rights in the 1950s and ’60s, Dr. King was a man who was willing to lay it all on the line for the greater good. And in doing so, he inspired countless others to do the same. He showed us that standing up for what’s right often requires sacrifices and courage that seem unimaginable, but it’s worth it when it leads to a more just world.

The impact that Dr. King made was so monumental, it can be hard to imagine making an impact that even matters. The fact that we can consider making an impact is in large part due to his work. I think it is also important to remember that he was human, a man of flaws and imperfections. Those flaws matter because they remind us that even imperfect people can show up with resolve and commitment to make the world better. Without this understanding, we would quit before even starting. He wasn’t perfect and neither are we. No excuse there.

We have something to give and that is, in fact, the ask he made of all of us – to serve. The beauty of our service is that it will look different as each one of us has different ways to give back. Some are feeding the hungry, others are working on policies so that there are fewer who are hungry, and others still are working to help people get back in their homes after the devastation in the Asheville area and Southern California area, as two examples. After all, if we all showed up at the same place, we would have more help than needed in one area and not enough in others.

Find your place. Don’t compare it to what others are doing. You have different gifts. Just find your place to dig in and help humanity. You will be better for it and so will the world. Doing our work aligns us with Dr. King’s work and thus the work continues. He said before he died that he didn’t have to see the work fully completed because he had been to the mountaintop, and he had a vision of the work being complete.

So, let’s make that true and find ways to serve. We should remain encouraged by the fact that his incredible leadership outweighs his imperfections and surpasses his flaws. The fact remains, his fight for equality, his unwavering commitment to justice, and his ability to unite people for a common cause left us with a better world than the one he was born into. That’s what we remember, aspire to be, and celebrate.

Dr. Lisa

Our theme song is “We Shall Overcome” featuring a short sermon by the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (It’s worth taking a moment to listen.)