13 January 2016

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

As we approach the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, we will celebrate and honor the life of a man who had a dream.

Since Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994, the traditional day has become more than just a day to remember Dr. King, but a national day of service. The Salvation Army encourages you to check out any local events throughout this weekend that will provide you with the opportunity to give back to your community.

Looking for a volunteer opportunity to make a difference? This year in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, consider giving the gift of time and help others by volunteering. You can see our volunteer calendar here.

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Some thoughts on what MLK said: 'Life's Most Persistent and Urgent Question'

By Roshunda Silas Coordinator, King Library and Archives

 

“There is little hope for us until we become toughminded enough to break loose from the shackles of prejudice, half-truths, and downright ignorance...A nation or a civilization that continues to produce softminded men purchase its own spiritual death on an installment plan” — Martin Luther King, Jr., Excerpt from Strength to Love

MY THOUGHTS

We know this; we understand this; yet, we find ourselves being drawn back to a selfishness that Dr. King’s refers to as hardheartness.  A hardheart, a spirit that does not freely give and honestly share in the wealth God has chosen to give to us all.  Do we truly grasp what this does to our inner person? To the internal spirit? To our ultimate DNA that uniquely set us apart from all others?

I am optimistic; I personally see every glass as half full.   To me each, glass is full of hope, full of prosperity, full of possibilities, full of new ideas, full of a new way of thinking.  In my heart, my spirit, my soul I truly believe that this way, this method is the only way.  I believe there is no other way.

Now, we all clearly understand that we cannot erase hate and prejudice from the minds and hearts of every citizen in our global community but we can however chose to help others and ourselves practice and embody alternative methods to deal with softminded individuals who pledge our community and the world.

I leave you with another profound quote by Dr. King that challenges us by asking a rhetorical question, one that does not require a verbal response, an illuminating question that causes us to dig deep inside to answer. "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"  -  Martin Luther King, Jr.