One Small Step.

Today we celebrate a great man, and an even greater leader. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for equality, freedom, unity, and peace, and I believe we need that type of leadership just as much today, as we did back then. We all want to feel inspired, motivated to make positive change, and united towards a common good. Unfortunately, that has not been most people’s experience lately.

As MLK said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” I think the ONLY thing that everyone can agree upon right now is that there is a lot of challenge and controversy. We need to focus on finding similarities, compassion, understanding, and empathy for those that are different from us. It is the only way we will make progress together.   

We all have our own beliefs. Like many others, I have grappled with forming my own opinions, knowing what to believe, understanding the complexity of situations, and learning the history of how we got where we are today. But nothing has been harder for me to understand, then the amount of aggression and hatred that has come between people who don’t agree. I believe that to make progress, we cannot condemn those that think differently than us, no matter how much we disagree. 

“Let no man pull you so low as to hate them.” MLK spoke those words over half a century ago, and they resonate still today. When I find myself truly not understanding how someone else could feel so differently than me, I don’t place judgement on them. Rather I try to learn and put myself in their shoes. I believe that is the only way we can ever find peace. 

Part of what makes this country so amazing is that we all have the right to freedom. We can make our own decisions, speak our minds, and become whatever we want to be. But these freedoms have been tainted by violence, abuse of power, and those not willing to understand one another. We all have to decide to either be part of the solution or continue to be part of the problem. 

So today, and everyday hereafter, choose to reach deep within and find your inner MLK. Find your ability to love, even when hate is all around you. Find your ability to listen, when what your hearing doesn’t sound right. Find your ability to hope, even when things seem hopeless. It is that glimmer of positivity that will propel us forward, because love is contagious and will spread if we let it. Let’s make Dr. King proud of us, one small step at a time.