In honor of 40 years...

Today is the 40th anniversary of the assasination of Martin Luther King Jr. He is someone I GREATLY respect, admire, and want to learn from. In his death (and because of his life) he accomplished something that changed America forever. Much like the Saints worldwide who have died for their faith and convictions, the people who knew their lives and their deaths were changed, which changed a community, a culture, and sometimes even a nation. I wanted to share some quotes from this man, both from letters he wrote and speeches he gave. If you've never studided MLK, I encourage you to read a speech, read some letters... he will challenge you not only as a follower of Jesus, but also as a human being created to love God bring glory to Him.

- An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

- Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

- History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

- Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.

- A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

- I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.