Do you have seventeen and a half minutes to spare?
That is the duration of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I have a dream” speech. You might think that you know it, on this, the 50th anniversary from when it was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial but then again, you might be surprised. If you actually listen to it, to him, in its entirety, well, it is the true essence of the best of what we can achieve in our limited existence. I can’t not show up today to talk about this. Here is a link to watch it and if you can get through it without tears, you are of sterner stuff than I. We have come far, we have far to go.
(I chose this link as it also has the speech written out below, it is breathtaking in its beauty and power)
But I have a second lien for you today, another that touched me deeply, in such a quiet way that I had to strain to hear. And yet the words are echoing through me. My friend Aidan first brought my attention to the podcast On Being with Krista Tippett, I believe it was for the exceptional interview that she did with Brene Brown on vulnerability. Since then I tune in weekly while I iron. Today, I listened to Jean Vanier, who is the founder of L’Arche, a system of communities in 40 countries that works with the developmentally disabled. He spoke of how those that were not so long ago immediately shut away in asylums have much to teach us about what it is to be human. It is also very much worth your time and I agree that there is a profound Wisdom in Tenderness.
The link to: http://www.onbeing.org/program/wisdom-tenderness/234
It was really something to hear both of these on the same day, overlapping despite the stylistic differences. So again, much good has been done but it is up to each of us to keep passing it along. I think. N’est ce pas?
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I am very surprised and grateful for the recent influx of new email subscribers. Not to worry, I don’t spend too much time up on my soapbox–at all actually–but if you are here, well, we might just be of like minds.
With all of my Best from Arles,
Heather
Beautifully put. Of course, like many, I can't help but wonder where the world would be today if he hadn't been shot.
I deliberately didn't read or listen to the gathering in Washington this past week or listen again to Dr. King's speech because doing so breaks my heart to tears that through all this time, all this knowing, all this struggle we have accumulated, we as a nation and people globally, are not nearly as close to King's dream as I imagined we would be today. Instead, I see ego, segregation by choice, and fear that speaking truths will bring shouts of racism. I don't believe Dr. King's dream includes the divide I feel today. And it is sad, very sad.
Wow. Oh Sara that is amazing. You have every right to be extremely proud of your family legacy. They gave you the gift of their presence, too…
You are the second person to mention Henri Nouwen, so I will take a look to see what I can find about him also, Edgar. And isn't his voice amazing. Every word is weighed and yet filled with the joy of true faith. It is amazing, just like Dr. King did too.