Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., Strenth to Love, 1963

Did you know, all 50 states have been celebrating MLK Day since 2000?

That’s just 21 years.

And the Civil Rights movement gained momentum and “began” in 1954 when the Supreme Court declared segregation illegal in public schools in Brown vs. Board of Education.

That’s just 67 years ago.

Racial inequality isn’t new, but looking at that timeline, the push for change and reform for the black community isn’t very old. These events have happened in our lifetime and continue in our lifetime with the Black Lives Matter movement.

I’m not going to push you to take a side or change your thinking. But I will challenge you to make loving one another a priority no matter your opinion on the subject.

As we live through the protests today, love one another above all.

If you’re a protestor, love one another.

If you’re a bystander, love one another.

If you’re unsure, love one another.

Following loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, it is the second greatest commandment.

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.

MARK 12:31

Are you up for the challenge? Take a moment and reflect as you celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today.

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, 1964