Fighting in Ukraine and Israel. Shootings and stabbings in the US that are directed at Muslims. Anti-Semitism rampant on social media. While we feel fortunate if our daily lives are not directly affected by these events, it is difficult to not allow them to affect our mood, spirit, and our outlook on the world.
January 15, 2024 is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day which provides us with an opportunity to use his words as a solace for ourselves and others amid so much sadness and despair.
In his 1958 article, “Out of the Long Night,” Dr. King wrote:
“When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”
We may not be able to stop war or prevent shootings, but we can act in accordance with Dr. King’s wishes by working for justice and showing compassion to others. Dr. King also said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’”
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., consider what you are doing or can do for others. Maybe it is donating food to a local pantry or volunteering to help at-risk students practice their reading at school. Maybe you can do something for others by sending cards to or visiting older adults who aren’t able to get out very often. Or think about attending charitable events to raise money for worthy causes. Actions as quick and as easy as writing a letter to your local newspaper or legislator can highlight a need to respond to injustice in your community.
Do something today to commemorate and celebrate peace as a way to feel a part of transforming dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. If you are looking for more ways to talk with the children in your life, Make A Way founder Deedee Cummings wrote a book called This is The Earth to talk with little ones about the power we have to spread peace and justice right in our own backyards and in our classrooms. Hope begins with action.