Photo: D. Paul Graham / “Faith through the Fog”, Savannah 2021

“Monday 5 Things”™ ….. A Man and His Dream …..

Martin Luther King, Jr., was only 39 years old when he was assassinated almost 55 years ago on the balcony outside of room 306 of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. King spent less than 13 years campaigning for civil rights and racial equality and was arrested 30 times for his work. This morning’s M5T shares some quotes from the man who had a dream.

1. A Response.

“As my sufferings mounted, I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation — either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.”

2. A Requisite.

“One of the great needs of mankind is to be lifted above the morass of false propaganda.”

3. A Reaction.

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”

4. A Reply.

“Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work.”  ~ Letter from Birmingham Jail

5. A Resolution.

“Never, never be afraid to do what is right. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our souls when we look away.”

Here’s to a week of focusing on the message and dream of the man whose voice was silenced far too soon.

© 2023 D. Paul Graham, all rights reserved.

For over 11 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T ™.  Each Monday, Paul shares his observations, thoughts and passions on people, life, and culture.