Recent Tears

If you're a man like me you can count your most recent experiences with tears on one hand. You can judge that based on whatever you wanna judge me on. I'm thinking now back to September when I borrowed Wattstaxx from the Newark library. The film contained a clip of the good doctor MLK giving his (I'm pretty certain of this) "I've been to the Mountaintop Speech."

I sat down to watch the classic soul and funk and afrotastic goodness, the volume was up high, joined by a big bowl of popcorn and a cold beer.  Between clips of Richard Pryor and brothers trying to work it out explaining the struggle, the man, women, there was Martin, saying...

"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

And then I just started crying. For hopes and battles lost, for being so close and then getting cut down. For kids left without a dad, for a movement punched in the gut and shattered. For getting a sermon and being touched by God when I least expected it. I owe a lot to the good doctor. I credit hearing about him in grade school for helping me sort out fact from fiction and learning how to love people. Thanks again.

Here's  a link to his "I have a Dream" speech if you're interested in listening: Download i_have_a_dream.mp3 (right click, save as...).

Comments

[Bro Petro]

Yeah Dr. MLK jr. is a true moving inspiration who should be cried about when heard. I just wrote an article on my blog that is about, in my opinion at least, one of God's least favorite apostles, Pat Robertson and how he is the 1st sign of the apocalypse.