On this day in 1968, Martin
Luther King was shot dead.
One of his best-known speeches was
delivered at the largest rally ever held in
the United States - when a quarter of a
million people gathered in Washington
in a Civil Rights demonstration. He said:
“I have a dream
that one day on the red hills of Georgia
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 colour of their skin
but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.”
Let us pray:
Father, sometimes I am too quick
to draw conclusions
about other people,
and I fail to see
many of the qualities in individuals
Remove from me any prejudices
that might lead me
to think of myself
as “better” than someone else.
If anyone should be negative
towards me,
inspire me to remain positive
towards them.
Because we are all different,
there are many things
I need to learn from others,
and so I ask for the gifts
of understanding and wisdom
and a clear vision
that will lead me to treat others
as I would like them to treat me.
Amen.
Let’s each of us think of two people in
our lives at home or in school or work
today whom we need to value and respect
a little more. In silence, let’s think
of ways today in which we can improve
those relationships.
(pause…)
