The King has a Dream

Posted on January 15, 2012 Updated on March 8, 2012

Today is the national day of memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Perhaps you enjoying the day off!

I admit it’s shallow, yet nevertheless true, that in the past I rarely have given Dr. King much thought on this day – I was simply happy for a three day weekend much like I had on Memorial Day or Veterans Day (of course, this was before I was married to a Veteran and became so much more reverent of such days).

Several months ago I was reading a book called Heavy Rain by Kris Vallotton where he quoted two speeches from Dr King.  I was brought to tears by the words of this world changing man and determined in that moment that my children would read and study the writings and life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am not at all qualified to expound much on the historical, political and social significance of Dr. King but I know what’s touched my heart. And to that I can speak.

A dream.  Dr. King had a dream.  He dreamed of the world as it could be not only as it was. He saw the world with Kingdom eyes and with grace and resolve he lived to see it realized.

The day before his assassination Dr. King gave a less famous speech titled “I have been to the mountaintop.”  In that speech he said:

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has it’s place. But I am not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the Promised Land. And I am happy tonight. I am not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

It is right to care for our health. Eat well, be active – steward our bodies and environment. Prepare for longevity. But to live a long life of despair, monotony or regret is not a grand thing. To live without living a dream is not to live.

A dream.  A Dream.

We all have a dream. We were born with dreams knit into us. The adventure of our lives is to search for the dream, the desire of our hearts. **(Proverbs 25:2) When we find it we must nurture it with hope, expectation and ACTION.

God, our King, has a dream and the dream is you. A dream of hope and love and destiny.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Martin Luther King did not live to see the United States free of social inequality – we still fight for that dream today – but he did live his dream. As he said himself, he has seen the Glory. He lived with purpose, resolve and inner peace.

When we live our dream, walk in our destiny, and dance with hope, we too live with purpose resolve and peace. It is to our glory to search out our dreams and purpose but it is an even greater glory to live out those dreams.

The King has a dream. Have you dreamt the dream He has for you?

In honor of one of God’s great dreamers start this day to seek that dream and then do something to see it come to life.

Footnotes

** Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of the Lord to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. (NIV)

Consider reading: Dreaming with Godby Bill Johnson