What We Can Learn From Martin Luther King, Jr.
July 26th, 2010
This week, we will take a look at Dr. Martin Luther King — a man that changed the world forever. He was not born rich or privileged. In fact, he was born in a time that some people thought African Americans were second or third class citizens.
He looked beyond what others may have thought of him and had a vision. He had a plan for a world in which everyone in the United States would be treated equal. He had a vision for a time when the country could have a president that was a person of color. And you know what? His dream came true.
He had death threats against not only himself but his family members. He had pressure from those of his own race who begged him to give up because their world was becoming more difficult. He had internal demons and doubts, yet he kept going. Why? Because he had to, he had a purpose greater than his own. A purpose that had to be fulfilled…and he fulfilled it.
We can do the same. What purpose, what desire do you have, that is greater than your own? What can you do and more importantly what are you doing to accomplish it NOW?
Nik Halik is an inspirational speaker and world traveler. For more information visit:
http://tiny.cc/MUHEo or Follow Me: http://www.Twitter.com/NikHalik
July 27th, 2010 at 10:44 am |
What a beautiful and thoughtful page. I, too, was a teenager during the time we are speaking of now and it was a great time to be alive. The dreams of both King and Kennedy continue to give strength and the reminder to give thanks each and every day.
July 27th, 2010 at 4:17 am |
Nik, I was also a teenager during the times spoken of in previous comments and your choice to share this thought at this time is especially meaningful to me. The first four words in the title.. “what we can learn”.. open the door to the opportunity to get the lesson. What we can do with what we dream can really change the world. Thank you for the inspiring reminder. Nana Yaa
July 27th, 2010 at 1:41 am |
Hello Ridgely,
You were right. It was predicted several years ago that President Obama would be President of USA. sceptics said “No”. anyway, I think the World is waiting for him to make changes. he did say to vote for a CHANGE, so there you have it.
Polly
July 26th, 2010 at 11:23 pm |
Hey Nik There is little or no more that I could add about the great inspiring lesson you have given us in this article that has not been said by Phylis and freda in the previous beautiful comments already.
My question to you is, how is that you are able to constantly remind us with such humility how important it is thay we stretch ourselves and give more than we should expect. From people just like you, like the late Dr. Martin Luther king and the immortal John F Kennedy we are inspired and reminded to give thanks each day for the blessing of Freedom, Liberty, the right to choose to make our own lives as good or as better than any could have ever hoped for back then. We all have a Dream don’t we? Thanks again Nik
July 26th, 2010 at 10:25 pm |
Hey Brother Nik. Thanks for sharing your beautiful thoughts about Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. You were born a few years after his death and did not live during the time to experience this dynamic man who changed the world with his love. I agree with Freda that he was indeed a great icon in history. I feel so very blessed to have lived during the time of Dr. King as well as President John F. Kennedy. Freda quoted the best speeches spoken by these great men, “I Have a Dream,” and President Kennedy’s Inauguration speech “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You, Ask What You Can Do For Your Country.” I lived through those turbulent days of the 60’s where we were all creating major changes in the world in the areas of Civil Rights, the Vietnam War, the hippie culture and, of course, sex, drugs and rock and roll. We listened to Timothy Leary talk about, “Tune in, turn on, drop out.” It was all about, “Peace, baby, peace,” and the Moody Blues, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and The Byrds were putting out hit after hit of songs about changes. It was a glorious time of change that the world will probably never experience again. And Dr. King was the center of the change for peace and freedom for all people. I am so very glad that, even though I was a teenager, I lived through those days and experienced the changes through blood, sweat and tears.
Dr. King, President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and all of the icons of the 60’s continue to inspire me today. Because of men like Dr. King, I was blessed, as an African-American woman, to have enjoyed the freedom of a loving marriage to a White man. Our interracial marriage was possible without fear because of the freedom that Dr. King created through his service and sacrifice. I was able to marry the man I loved despite our cultural and color differences. My late husband and I lived the life that Dr. King dreamed of…that all God’s children, black and white, could live together in love and peace. That became true for me having married the man of my dreams who was a different race. If my beloved husband were alive today, he would be happy that Dr. King’s dream of an African-American President of the United States is now a reality. I’m sure that Dr. King is celebrating in the higher worlds as he sees his dream manifested today in so many loving ways. Thank you, Dr. King, for your dream and teaching us about non-violent ways of being the change that we wish to see in the world. God bless you.
Thanks Nik. Perhaps one day I will have the pleasure of sharing with you my personal memories of one of America’s great icons, Reverent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Blessings,
Phyllis
July 26th, 2010 at 8:22 pm |
Thank you, Nik. I have great respect for Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King! He was an icon–a stand-out–a no excuses man! We can take many lessons from his life to live bigger than just for ourselves or our little circle of daily life. We need to have a purpose–a cause greater than for “self”. The people we remember most are those who were givers–not just spare change at the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas–but GIVERS who gave 110% to a cause greater than their own.
One of the most famous speeches ever penned was Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s ” I have a dream….” Another memorable speech is President John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Those two speeches offer much in the way of setting our focus on “other” than self–on compassionate service to the world. I believe there is nothing that will shape the foundations of peace around the world like compassionate service, and nothing that will shape one’ s character and bring fulfillment like a giving heart of compassion.
Thank you for sharing, Nik.
Freda