What I am taking away from the Michael Jackson Memorial today has little to do with the "King of Pop". I wish all who pass away peaceful things. But I was moved by another King: the inspirational words of a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoken so eloquently by his son, Martin Luther King III. I found a website with the speech and posted the portion that moved me below. Feel free to click here for the source page and his take on it. Otherwise, read on:
On August 11, 1956, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech in Buffalo called "The Birth of a New Age".
Part of that speech goes as follows:
"We need more people who are competent in all areas and always remember that the important thing is to do a good job. No matter what it is. Whatever you are doing consider it as something having cosmic significance, as it is a part of the uplifting of humanity. No matter what it is, no matter how small you think it is, do it right. As someone said, do it so well that the living, dead, or the unborn could do it no better. If your son grows up to be a street cleaner, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry, sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, 'here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well'. If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill be a shrub on the side, but be the best shrub on the side of the hill. Be a bush if you can't be a tree, if you can't be a highway be a trail, if you can't be the sun be a star. It isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are...”
The message is powerful. Those words make me feel like I am doing alright. I'll be a trail. I'll keep doing the best I can with what I am given and continue being good to others. I'll keep working towards something wonderful and appreciating all that I have. We all should do that in life. Thank you "Anonymous" and Dr. King. You've brought me peace of mind today. I hope it does the same for anyone else who reads it.
Peaceful Things,
Josh
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3 comments:
You have hit the nail on the head. Watching the memorial and seeing people from all across the globe come together and celebrate Michael Jackson's life is truly spectacular. The world really became one yesterday and that's something we seldom come by. I wish we had these type of memorial days every day.
Like I said, it wasn't as much about Michael Jackson. I have mixed emotions about the whole situation, but I wish him peace just as I would any other person. Hate and negativity towards anything in life is a waste of time and energy, so the general positive vibe was nice to see. The MLK portion was the part I will hold onto.
You have an award on my blog!!!
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