Be An Extremists For Love

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a man who my life has personally been inspired by. He is my personal hero and I want to acknowledge him in honor of his birthday. I am drawn to men & women who inspire me by their words, actions & courageous spirit in the midst of opposition and adversity. He stood up for what was right even when it was not socially acceptable.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the very few political leaders that ignites my spirit when I hear him speak. His speeches always leave me feeling empowered. Truth, passion & conviction resonate with my soul & provokes me to rise up to be a better human being.
His words inspire me to serve my brothers, sisters and my community. I can personally say my involvement with my community, "Alliance for Lupus Research" and "Childrens United Nations", has been inspired by his messages that we are to serve others.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.has been that example to me of what a true leader is. A servant.
I am not a perfect leader. I do not have a background made up of Degrees or come from a financially wealthy family. But I do however strive every day with the resources that surround me to become to be an active leader, friend, servant and example of inspiration like him in my world.
May we all be extremists of love at this capacity or even greater.
Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Thank you for being a courageous human being without ever losing sight of the vision you had for us, which is freedom. We are still living out your dream.

"Letter from Birmingham Jail" dated April 16, 1963

"But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for LOVE: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for JUSTICE: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel; "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. "Was not Martin Luther an extremist?: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God. "And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a buchery of my conscience, " And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free. And Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal..."So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be?. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime-the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in the direct need of creative extremists.

- Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.

Let's all be creative extremists for LOVE and strive after greatness and purpose like leaders like this. We are all created to accomplish great things on this planet but always remember these gifts were intended to bring us all back to one thing at that is to LOVE. And it begins with self. Before we see peace and love in our homes, our neighborhoods, our cities, our nation or even our world, this peace that we all desire to see on this planet must FIRST take place within our own hearts.


My Favorite MLK quotes:

Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illumines it
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate
destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and
retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.You don't have to have 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.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

If man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life's most persistent and urgent question is,What are you doing for others?
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We must combine the toughness of the serpent and the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Let us be dissatisfied until that day when nobody will shout, "White Power!" when nobody will shout, "Black Power!" but everybody will talk about God's power and human power.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.