Peace on Earth

On this day, December 11th, in 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave the Nobel Lecture at the University of Oslo.

This was just one day after his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35. King, a leader in the civil rights movement, advocated peace all of his life. His “I Have a Dream” speech is known around the world as a vision of what could be.

Today, as I sit watching the news of all the strife in the world, and wrapping Christmas gifts for my dozen siblings, it occurs to me that there is so much more to this season than finding the perfect gift. And so this Monday I share with you these words, much more profound than anything I could write.

From MLK’s Nobel Lecture, 42 years ago today:

“Let me close by saying that I have the personal faith that mankind will somehow rise up to the occasion and give new directions to an age drifting rapidly to its doom. In spite of the tensions and uncertainties of this period something profoundly meaningful is taking place. Old systems of exploitation and oppression are passing away, and out of the womb of a frail world new systems of justice and equality are being born. Doors of opportunity are gradually being opened to those at the bottom of society. The shirtless and barefoot people of the land are developing a new sense of 'some-bodiness' and carving a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of despair. 'The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.' Here and there an individual or group dares to love, and rises to the majestic heights of moral maturity. So in a real sense this is a great time to be alive.”

Until next time,

Conna