I Have a Dream

The legacy that is Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr….

Today in 1929 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King JR. Was born in Atlanta, GA. We all are well aware of his legacy and the impact he had on the lives of so many. It is such an amazing feeling to know that his influence continues to impact many, years after his death. It’s his life however, that I prefer to focus on.

Seems I’m not the only one either. Every year the on the Monday after his birthday hundreds of thousands participate in a day of service. It’s a way to honor him and pay tribute to his legacy. Throughout his life he did and said so much. He has many popular quotes. My fave is “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree today”. This always resonated with me. Perhaps because it speaks to a level of groundedness that I aspire to. Not being so easily distracted by the future and what is known. More so, acting on what I want in the moment.

Lots of Georgia residents acted on what they wanted especially when it came to representation. That’s right Sunshine, they voted. The Georgia run off election was held recently. The runoff election which is basically a rematch determined who would represent Georgia and which party will control the senate with a majority. This is good because it helps Biden make some “money moves” if you will.

Rev Raphael Warnock of Ebeneezer’s Baptist church in Atlanta, GA won the senate seat. As senator-elect he will become the 11th black senator in congress EVER! To add some context, we are talking about over 200 years of congress. Out of those 200 + years there have only been 11 black senators. Some to note include Corey Booker, Kamala Harris, and Barack Obama. Needless to say he is joining some good company.

Now in case you missed it, I will re-emphasize. Rev Raphael Warnock preaches at Ebenezeer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. This is the same church Rev Dr. Martin Luther King preached and grew up watching his father preach. The church is 134 years old and was founded in 1886 by former slaves. Talk about “things coming full circle”

Sometimes the stories or in this case the blog posts write themselves. During the Civil Rights Movement the church more specifically, the black church was a key influencer in progress. It seems that history is repeating itself. As a Christian the church as a whole has played a significant role in my life. Words cannot even begin to describe the positive impact.

I am who I am becasuse of a great body of believers. I also am who I am because of those like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who fought for many of the rights, freedoms, and liberties that I enjoy freely today. Today on his birthday, I thank him, all those before him, and the ones that followed. I encourage you to take some time this weekend. Don’t just enjoy the extra day off if you have it. Don’t just treat this day as a regular day. Reflect, express a heart of gratitude, and celebrate!

Let Your Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Light Shine!