In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.,
who was recently listed in
Ted Stewart’s "The Mark of a Giant"
as one of seven people
who changed the world,
I start with an example from his life
that so clearly highlights these principles.
Look for courage, action, and grace
as I read his words:
"Almost immediately after
the [bus boycott] started
we had begun to receive
threatening telephone calls and letter
They increased as time went on. . . .
One night . . . I couldn’t sleep.
It seemed that all of my fears
had come down on me at once. . . .
I had heard these things before, but
for some reason that night it got to me. . . .
I went to the kitchen and . . .
I sat there and thought about a beautiful 
little daughter who had just been born. . . .
I started thinking about a dedicated and
loyal wife, who was over there asleep.
And she could be taken from me,
or I could be taken from her.
And I got to the point that
I couldn’t take it any longer. . . .
With my head in my hands, I bowed over
the kitchen table and prayed aloud . . . :
'Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right.
I think I’m right.
I am here taking a stand
for what I believe is right.
But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now,
I’m faltering.
I’m losing my courage.
Now, I am afraid. . . .
I have nothing left.
I’ve come to the point where
I can’t face it alone.'
I could hear the quiet assurance
of an inner voice saying:
'Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness.
Stand up for justice.
Stand up for truth.
And lo, I will be with you.
Even until the end of the world.'
I tell you . . . I heard the voice of
Jesus saying still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me alone.
At that moment I experience
the presence of the Divine
as I had never experienced Him before.
Almost at once my fears began to go.
My uncertainty disappeared.
I was ready to face anything."
Could you see the pathway to healing?
Courage to face a difficult situation
and stand for truth,
acting in faith by turning to God in prayer,
and peace and strength from
the Lord through His grace—
courage,
action,
grace.
