Tomorrow is today

January 17, 2011 is officially Marting Luther King Day in the United States. Dr. King is one of the most influential leaders in American history. On this day, I watch the entire "I Have a Dream" speech and it's as relevant today as it was in 1963. His words are timeless and can be applied to many facets of life.

In addition to his most famous speech, I search for other speeches in an attempt to better understand the real story of Dr. King. I'd like to share with you my discovery after reading Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King from April 4, 1967. The speech was delivered at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City.

In this speech I am moved by the courage of Dr. King. In my opinion, courage is under rated in our society today and Martin Luther King is one of the best examples history has to offer us in what true courage looks like.

King's courage is demonstrated in that he recognizes and responds to his own convictions. In this speech, he knows what is right in his heart and he refuses to remain silent. He recites the sentiments of the committee's concerns by saying, "A time comes when silence is betrayal."

This particular speech deals with the events surrounding the Vietnam war, however, these words are important in a much larger context. He goes on to say, "I have moved to break the betrayal of my own silences and to speak from the burnings of my own heart." Many of his followers instructed him to not engage in conversations about the war because it could have hurt his Civil Rights cause. I'm not sure if these comments interfered or not, but it's clear that he was responding to his personal convictions. That's courage.

It's often scary to do what is right. I argue that we often know what is right and wrong and I charge that it's never wrong to do what is right. I think this was Dr. King's motivation. And that's why he chose to act.

If you ignore your convictions, you might miss your opportunity to do what's right. Take advantage of the opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others and in your own life. Be the change that you want to see in the world today.

We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The "tide in the affairs of men" does not remain at the flood; it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: "Too late."

At the end of this eloquent speech, Martin Luther King says, "We must move past indecision to action." Are you holding on to convictions and not acting in the way you know is right? Are there individuals you need to confront? Are there people you need to encourage? Is there something that is burning in your heart that you're afraid to respond to? Take courage and be bold.

Don't wait for someone else to do what you may have been created to do.

Your moment is now.

Tomorrow is today.