Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - A Man of Action

12 Jan 2007 -- Vicksburg, MS -- Jan. 15th marks the 78th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the greatest civil rights leaders of our time. The theme for this year's celebration is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On . . . Not a Day Off." It is an appropriate reminder to all of us that Dr. King was a man of action who called us to action as well.

From 1957 to 1968, Dr. King traveled more than six million miles and spoke more than 2500 times. He led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of people around the world; he planned and participated in voter registration drives for African Americans throughout Alabama; he directed the peaceful March on Washington, D.C. where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech - words that still echo through our consciousness today.

Dr. King conferred with President Kennedy and campaigned for President Johnson; he was arrested more than twenty times and was assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees and was named Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1963; and at thirty-five, he became the youngest man ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

1957 to 1968 - that's eleven years. Only a man of action can accomplish so much in so short a time.

Dr. King was criticized for his activism, many times by fellow clergymen who considered his non-violent activities as "unwise and untimely." He was constantly urged to "wait" for a better time. One letter writer spoke that "all Christians know that colored people will receive equal rights eventually, but it is possible that you are in too great a hurry."

Dr. King didn't believe in waiting. He said, "We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right." For this, he is considered a hero to people and nations all around the world.

But, Dr. King spoke of heroes in his day, every day people who became heroes because they Acted. He spoke of James Meredith, who faced hostile mobs and jeering crowds to go it alone at the University of Mississippi; of 72-year-old Rosa Parks, whose dignity made her refuse to ride that segregated bus; of those students and ministers who sat at lunch counters where they were denied service, so the world would know they were not lesser human beings and that they deserved dignity and respect.

These everyday heroes acted, with dignity and non-violence, to help not only themselves, but everyone who would come after them - to end injustice and celebrate that freedom we should all celebrate - that all men are created equal and have the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness.

In one of his last sermons, Dr. King spoke about the end of his mortal life. He said, "I'd like somebody to mention on that day that Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others . . . I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life . . . to love and serve humanity."

Today, we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for just that – his love and service to humanity. And if we listen, we can still hear his call to action ringing in our ears.

So, as we Remember and Celebrate, let us make a commitment to Act on his vision of a world in which hatred, ignorance and indifference are replaced with compassion and understanding.

Let us vow to serve others and recognize every man, woman and child for who they are - equal under the law and precious in the sight of their Creator.