Martin Luther King
You know, we honor Martin Luther King with a special day for him each year but very few truly follow his guidance and wisdom for peace. If not just African Americans but all people would permeate every particle of their beings with his ‘Life’, then peace, manifesting in each heart will sprout naturally in civic virtue. Unless and until each person makes these truths part of his being, the ‘cycle’ will continue.
No matter what racial experiences he went through, he never wavered in his mode of living. From what I think I know about MLK, he would tell you, each and collectively, to not only forgive but to love that white cop. That is true, lasting power that changes your mortal consciousness to immortal.
Don’t you think that that cop wouldn’t feel that and repent if not now certainly later. This is true freedom, true power, true virtue. This is what Christ taught, what Gandhi taught and King taught. Love and forgiveness.
Gandhi freed a whole nation without firing a bullet. When a crazy man put three bullets into his chest, Gandhi dropped to his knees, folded his hands and forgave the man. Like Christ and King, what a supreme life, a victorious life.
Christ forgave his persecutors - “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” - and I’m sure if King had the chance he would have done the same for that ignorant man who shot him. Does this seem almost impossible to do? But it can be done, these great ones have shown us how.
Good gosh, young African Americans killing each other in unbelievable numbers in cities. In Chicago, 500 in one Labor Day weekend in 2016. But no outcry, no protests, just a few articles in the paper. We can’t decide that lives matter selectively. One can’t be mutually exclusive of the other.
Can you imagine, everyone, all races, walking arm in arm down the streets American cities with love and forgiveness in their hearts and minds, that those coming in contact wouldn't be positively affected. That is the cure for society's ills and it begins with each person. You must be the starting point.
Of course it can’t be a weekend deal. These high ideals must be constantly manifesting in each and all every second of the day. And, boy, I know that your family and friends will love it.
On the material side, in Chicago as well as the major cities, all the news media, politicians, civil servants cash their paychecks, sell their houses and move into the ghetto sections. Then communicate, work with, immerse yourselves into their lives and by their willing service, help them to re-acquire hope, develop self-confidence in themselves and trust in the city leaders.
Quotes from Martin Luther King:
Note: To discover and renew the divine qualities hidden within each of us that King teaches requires absolute fearlessness.
On love: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
On Riots: “The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility.”
On evolving: “Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”
On non-violence: “Nonviolence is absolute commitment to the way of love. Love is not emotional bash; it is not empty sentimentalism. It is the active outpouring of one’s whole being into the being of another.”
On self-control: “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
On forgiveness: “Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.”
On Violence: “Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace.”
The cure for the ills of society lie within each soul. Dive deep there and you will discover Spirit. Finding Him within, you will find Him without and know divine love. Then it will be impossible to behave inimicaly towards anyone and you will see mankind, everyone as a blood-brother, “. . . for love is indispensable”.
A Prayer for Inner Guidance
Lord, I take a sacred vow to never let myself sink into the pit of negative emotions. That I only manifest the Christ qualities of fearlessness, courage, forgiveness, love and understanding.