Jesus gave us a new norm for greatness. If you want to be important, wonderful. If you want to be recognized, wonderful. If you want to be great, wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness.
And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.
Martin Luther King, Jr., “The Drum Major Instinct,” Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, February 4, 1968 [Based on Mark 10:35-43]
About the image: The image above features the pulpit from which Martin Luther King, Jr. preached and led a movement. The passionate “How Long? Not Long” speech was also delivered from this lectern on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery at the conclusion of the famous Selma to Montgomery March. The pulpit now rests in the basement of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. I had the privilege of placing my hand on this pulpit during a research trip with other educators a couple of summers ago.
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He was truly inspired by God.
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Thank you for sharing this wisdom. And the pulpit – seeing it adds a quality of depth – as if I can almost feel the power of his words as he preaches from the pulpit.
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Can you imagine hearing him speak in person? I get chills when I listen to him via recording.
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Powerful!
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Amazing. What an honor to be able to place your hand on it.
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An honor indeed. I think I’m just beginning to process the whole experience.
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It is so cool that you got to see (and touch) it in person! Wow.
Thanks so much for sharing those wonderful words.
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It is…It didn’t dawn on me how cool it was until after I typed those words. There was a lot to process on that trip…I really need to write about it.
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Ok, so I had to look up that theory. LOL. Thanks for my learning for the day. 🙂
I agree, so cool that you had that opportunity. What a GLORIOUS piece of history. I can’t help wondering why it is in the basement. And not on display somewhere. Showing my ignorance I am sure.
Thank you Chandra for sharing his words with us.
You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.
Amen
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The basement is like a museum for [part of] the movement. That’s typically where the tour begins, so it is appropriately placed. I have more pics and a lot more info. A LOT. Trying to decide how to pull it all together.
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He is the greatest man i’ve ever seen .
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