Semper Vita Salutes Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King day...and see his dream come to pass.

Saluting MLK

What an amazing day to think about how far this country has come in 45 years! African Americans in a one lifetime have gone from living in slavery to watching Obama get the top job.  Do you think King imagined this time in history?

Here's part of Martin Luther King's speech in 1963:

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." ...

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. 
...

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together" (Isaiah 40:4,5; KJV).

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Hope, freedom and opportunity

His dream revolved around equality and the hope for a better future. He envisioned freedom for all, equality based on value rather than color, and opportunities for everyone. He fought against oppression and paid dearly for it.

A pastor friend of mine, Josh Hebert, recently said, "the greater the dream the longer the process." Martin Luther King never saw the fulfillment of his dream. He paid for his "radical" ideas with his life. Tomorrow, his dream will reach a climax as Barak Obama is inaugurated as our 44th president.

I have a dream

My dream fits nicely in with MLK's dream. What is that dream? That all people would experience life through service in community. I can imagine people loving their neighbors of all colors, races, income brackets and skill levels with the love of Jesus. I dream of people giving of their best to a neighbor and in the process finding true joy and contentment.

I have a dream that one day no one will be hungry, thirsty, lonely or in need - not just in America but around the world. What's your dream? Do you share my dream?