Dr. King

Dr. King: 

yesterday was Martin Luther King day, a federal holiday, and it's meant to be an occasion of high honor for such an important man to so many Americans of all races. Dr. King is more than an important historical figure, he is a living force that still carries the energy of the movement towards racial equality, tolerance and kindness to all. He was, and remains, a towering figure of great significance. His message lives on. What strikes me as important is in how Dr. King created this energy that still resonate today, and indeed, might be more vital to put in practice than ever. We are faced with crisis on many fronts right now, equality still an issue despite so much progress made, there is a wish to put the struggle behind us even as we're far from being finished. As well we find ourselves in great political turmoil, rights being stripped away or diminished, a climate catastrophe happening in plain view with litter serious action being taken, and many of our leaders afraid or unwilling to be truthful concerning our present situation. 

the energy Dr. King tapped into is all important. 

it's the only thing that we save us.

and it's love. 

King was clear in his message, he talked of love as being the only way to proceed into the future. that it's critical to any movement that seeks to make great and lasting change. Sometimes, more often than I care to admit really, I'm fearful that his message has been lost to us, that an assassination bullet robbed us of a great man as well as that vital force that fueled his message. Yet much like Gandhi, who was his spiritual mentor in many important ways, Dr. King is still a powerful presence in the world, beyond a one day celebration, he's a reminder of Gandhi's most powerful message -

be the change you wish to see in the world. 

so many today speak of love, and some even preach it from the culprit, but it is steeped in rhetoric that belies its actual practice. We're not living the change we wish to see. And the world suffers greatly for this, literally so, with destruction of all that's vital to us hanging in the balance. Martin Luther King day isn't just a holiday, it's a testament to the energy he tapped into, a reminder of how much more work we all have to do. 

and only we can do it. 

it's crucial that we try. 

~

Peace, (truly so) Eric