Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Today we as a nation celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King worked tirelessly and against strident resistance in leading the civil rights movement. In 1964, he was the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Against all push back, Dr. King forged ahead as a leader, putting his safety constantly at risk. According to the King Center, the civil rights leader went to jail 29 times. He was arrested for acts of civil disobedience and on trumped-up charges. Yet, despite all the threats, intimidation and darkness, he continued with fervor, faith and strength in conveying his most important message.

We all face many challenges in our lives, and it is sometimes difficult to find the strength to carry on when all seems lost, or the odds are against us. But in those moments, when we feel enveloped in darkness and despair, if we reflect, we can search for the glimmer of hope, the star that might guide us out of the darkness. I have had some rough periods in my life where I lost everything, and I lost belief in myself. I became so exhausted from accepting the situation and living in fear, that I just decided to look for any glimmer of hope, hold on to that, and forge ahead with whatever opportunity to improve my situation that the universe presented to me. Dr. King displayed the depth of resources that we each have individually if we choose to dig deep, and never take no for answer. Let’s honor his memory and follow his example of faith, resilience and strength.