On MLK Day: Leading with Love
As a start to my day, I went back and reread the text of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "Where Do We Go From Here". It was delivered in 1967 but the wisdom on how we move forward from division are timeless and I believe perfect for these days as well. It's easy to toss an MLK quote out today and pat ourselves on the back for doing our part, but taking time to really dig into some of his speeches or writings and to think about how we can learn from them today is what can fuel real change. I'd encourage you to check out the whole speech but here's my favorite sections:
"And I say to you, I have also decided to stick with love, for I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems. And I'm going to talk about it everywhere I go. I know it isn't popular to talk about it in some circles today. And I'm not talking about emotional bosh when I talk about love; I'm talking about a strong, demanding love...
And so I say to you today, my friends, that you may be able to speak with the tongues of men and angels; you may have the eloquence of articulate speech; but if you have not love, it means nothing. Yes, you may have the gift of prophecy; you may have the gift of scientific prediction and understand the behavior of molecules; you may break into the storehouse of nature and bring forth many new insights; yes, you may ascend to the heights of academic achievement so that you have all knowledge; and you may boast of your great institutions of learning and the boundless extent of your degrees; but if you have not love, all of these mean absolutely nothing. You may even give your goods to feed the poor; you may bestow great gifts to charity; and you may tower high in philanthropy; but if you have not love, your charity means nothing. You may even give your body to be burned and die the death of a martyr, and your spilt blood may be a symbol of honor for generations yet unborn, and thousands may praise you as one of history's greatest heroes; but if you have not love, your blood was spilt in vain. What I'm trying to get you to see this morning is that a man may be self-centered in his self-denial and self-righteous in his self-sacrifice. His generosity may feed his ego, and his piety may feed his pride. So without love, benevolence becomes egotism, and martyrdom becomes spiritual pride."
If you'd like to check out the whole speech, you can find it here: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/where-do-we-go-here-address-delivered-eleventh-annual-sclc-convention?fbclid=IwAR0P9uLl6ihl88dnwZCwxHELasVifvjtcxv0b_11JlFskOp63xBwJW4h7NI