"If You Want To Say That ..." Changes Everything

Maybe you'd heard, maybe not, but Maya Angelou recently lamented that a new MLK memorial carried only part of one of his quotes, and the clause that was left out made all of the difference.  Leaving off "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that....." changes the meaning of  "I was a drum major for justice, etc." Angelou pointed out that it made Dr. King sound arrogant to leave off the beginning of the sentence, and missed the point of the entire sermon that encased it.

If you know Jeff and me, you can probably guess what we did after stumbling across this information.  We listened to the sermon.  I think I agree with Maya Angelou.

Feminism and Christianity don't only focus on women and people who say they follow Christ, respectively.  At the heart of each is not only a yearning to become the best versions of ourselves, and to seek justice and healing and peace for all.

In that spirit, if you have time, I REALLY  (note the total emphasis applied) encourage you to listen to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Drum Major Instinct" sermon.  He is an amazing speaker, and this is a powerful message.  It never ceases to surprise me how in the strangest ways a Message that I need to hear finds me at the right moment.  As was the case with this.  It spoke right to me. From 1968 Dr. King ended up right on my street, to use the phrase of a former minister of mine. 

The message is timeless as well as timely. Often on Ourselves, Reinvented we have discussed in some way the Drum Major Instinct.  The yearning to lead. To not sit down silently, or pass through life unheard.  I believe that we all have something we want to share, a mark to leave on the world.  We have heard many women speak about things in this space which they are passionate about, how they are seeking justice and peace. We are just as susceptible to all the distortions such as greed, pride, gossip, envy, and so on.  And as Dr. King pointed out that Jesus, as usual, showed us a new way to great accomplishment. Serving.  Loving.  Dr. King brilliantly concluded that this is available to every person, then. 

I love that. Every person is capable of great things.  Not through money or degrees or connections but by serving others.  Seeking justice.  Loving one another. It makes me want to hear more MLK sermons, because I feel as if just now the depths of his dream are becoming understandable to me. 

We could change everything.