"I Have a Dream"

Posted by Scott Williams
18 Comments
January 21, 2008
Hmmmmm | Leadership

Today I wanted to share some excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, “I have a Dream” Speech:  Allow the words to penetrate your heart.  See it in it’s entireity here! 

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” 

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.“

Don’t let today simply be a day off of work, but rather a day of reflection.  It’s hard to believe this speech was just 43 years ago.  I thank God for Dr. King; it’s scary to think how different the world would be without his leadership, as a matter of fact you probably wouldn’t even be reading my blog….  We have come a long way and have a long way to go.  Still Dreamin’

Share your thoughts, discuss…..

  • http://www.crossroadsmovement.com J.W.

    My parents would make us listen to essentially all of Dr. King’s sermons/speeches. I say make only because we didn’t realize the importance or meaning when we were little. But now I sit back and think, what would it have been like if Dr. King remained silent or inactive…I’m grateful for his work and others who paid a major price for our freedom and success as a nation. What kind of impact does God want us to have on this world, but we’re remaining selfish, silent and inactive.

  • http://www.annameadows.com Anna Meadows

    I was watching the news last night as they were doing a special on Dr. King and how he was assasinated. This thought shot through my mind: “What would the world look like if we all believed in something so radically that our lives were actually at risk?”

  • http://www.unveilinghope.com Hope

    It’s a painful reality that this dream had to be planted 43 years ago and that still today there are places where people are still dreaming this dream. It breaks my heart to peices. The consolation is that dreams bring people together and God loves nothing more to to fulfill our greatest desires when they line up with His own. Thank you for sharing this post.

  • http://cindybeall.wordpress.com Cindy Beall

    Good post, Scott. So thankful for Dr. King and his vision. So thankful that I know you :)

  • http://dturn.wordpress.com david

    I want this dream to become reality.
    It’s a shame that I’m still “dreaming” about when the church will become a reflection of what heaven is like.

  • http://www.embracingthefriction.blogspot.com Christi D.

    I had a great conversation with Merrick (our 7 yr. old) about this. He just couldn’t fathom why someone would treat someone different due to the color of their skin! I love that my children get to grow up in a new day and time. I realize there are still so many injustices out there, but thanks to Dr. King we are heading in the right direction. Thanks for this post, Scott!

  • http://www.lifechurch.tv/?p=748 Andrew HNV

    Well said

  • http://littlepastor.blogspot.com JC

    http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1704734,00.html?cnn=yes

    Have you checked out these newly discovered images from the LIFE magazine archive?

  • http://www.nataliewitcher.blogspot.com Natalie Witcher

    JT and I were talking about how we don’t think we have any slave owner ancestors becuase we know we would just want to walk around apologizing for the atrocity. My great-grandparents came from Ireland and went to California. Still, I’m heartbroken by what happened and in some places is still happening. yes, i agree with David…heaven will be beautiful

  • roger

    I am finally seeing a generation a children that seem to be color blind. I grew up with adults still using the N word and even then it didn’t seem right to me but I have to admit that I used it as a child and now regret it. I hope my children can avoid being influenced by people full of hate and will love everyone equally. I not sure I even like the term “color blind” as it does not go deep enough. We shouldn’t just ignore someones skin color and see everyone the same because we aren’t. We should be marveling at our differences as a positive beautiful creation of God, not as something that seperates us.

  • http://apriddyblog.blogspot.com natalie

    What an inspiration Dr. King was to all of us.

  • Scott Williams

    Thanks for the comment variety!

  • http://paravane.wordpress.com/ jimmy paravane

    Dr. King may be dead, but the author of his dream isn’t.

  • http://knowgraterlove.org/wordpress1 Avery

    We have come a long way in 43 years, but we’ve got a lot farther to go yet…

    I alos thank God for Dr. King!

  • http://www.blog.aaronhavens.com aaron

    are we quiet enough to be given a dream?

  • http://biblebasics.wordpress.com mlc

    I have a dream that one day people will see churches as the following:

    - 5 star hotels where the homeless live as they get a leg up
    - luxury condos where the terminally ill are cared for
    - queues of visitors round the blocks outside prisons
    - chartered jets sending single moms and kids off to sunny resorts for a holiday

    I have a dream where real sacrifice from all christians shows how Jesus’ love can be delivered in excessive, beyond-expectations, wow-factor love.

  • http://biblebasics.wordpress.com mlc

    i am a young guy (39) from New Zealand – so I dont remember the good Dr and was not brought up reminded of him by a holiday.

    What I do understand is that he was NOT a popular guy at the end of his time here on earth – and one of the reasons is that he had ‘moved on’ or extending his ministry beyond just race relations into poverty and other issues.

    It reminds me that following Jesus and doing his work will not make you popular. This is the sad state of leadership today – we vote for the popular ones. We follow the popular ones.

    Jesus asks us to stand firm in our faith. To sacrifice now. And our rewards will be in eternity.

    This is the lesson I also get from the life, ministry and death of MLK.

  • http://abeautifulimageblog.com ~abi~

    how many of us have dreams that we never try to turn into realities? what an influential man dr king was and still is today!

    praying for more change!

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