Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great man. Today I am reflecting on some of his words of wisdom, and am reminded how important it is to keep love in my heart, rather than hate and anger.  Reading these again, and holding those thoughts close, being present to them, helps me. It is sometimes hard, in moments of darkness, to see the light, to see the element of humanity in all of us, what we have in common, instead of our differences. I do it today by stopping, closing my eyes, breathing deeply, in and out, focusing on my breath and the life in my body, and being present to the life all around me, and holding up my daughter’s face, filled with laughter and discovery, and let the love I feel for her envelop me and then with every breath, let that love fill the space around me, the room, the the world, and all the people in it, even those who have hurt me or others. That opening is the window to let compassion and love in.

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These are some of my favorites of MLK’s and today I share them with you:

“Hate cannot drive out hate”

‘Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars…. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.’ –Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community

“The ultimate measure of a man” (or woman :-) )

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” –Strength to Love, collection published in 1963

“Unconditional love will have the final word”

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” –Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, December 10, 1964, he said it was a “profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer.”

“Hatred paralyzes life”

“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.” –Strength to Love. King believed that fear was the first step towards hate. 

“Let no man [or woman] pull you low…”

“Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.” –Paul’s Letter to American Christians, sermon on Nov. 4, 1956.

“Injustice anywhere…”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” –"Letter from Birmingham Jail" on April 16, 1963

“Something he will die for…”

“I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” – Two months before King delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech, in Detroit, June 23, 1963.

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