Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is now celebrated as a day of service to our fellow human beings.
I want to relate my favorite story about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and tell you that neither of the two people in this story were Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In early 1975, Jimmy Carter finished his term as Governor of Georgia. He was planning a run for the presidency and arranged a meeting with Reverend Martin Luther King, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s father.
Former Governor Carter drove from Plains into Atlanta for the meeting. To start the meeting, former Governor Carter said, “Reverend King, I have decided to run for President of the United States, and I’ve come to ask for your blessing.”
Reverend King started sobbing uncontrollably. When the sobbing seemed to slow, Former Governor Carter said, “Reverend King, I thought this would be emotional, but not as much as it has been. Can you tell me what is going on?”
When Reverend King was composed enough to speak, he asked, “Do you remember in the I have a Dream Speech where my son said ‘one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood’?”
Former Governor Carter nodded. Reverend King went on to say, “I believe that day is today.”
The ability of communities like West Liberty to exist has occurred because many leaders have been able to put aside past beliefs, change their ways of thinking, and put forth actions that unite rather than divide.
In his 1963 inaugural address Governor George Wallace said, “Segregation now. Segregation tomorrow. And segregation forever.”
In 1979, on a Sunday morning, unannounced, Governor Wallace went to the Dexter Street King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, and asked forgiveness for his words and actions.
As he was leaving, the congregation started singing, “Amazing Grace.”
These stories reflect the change in Saul on the road to Damascus. Our actions of being welcoming, understanding, caring, sharing, and accepting allow us to be a community that reflects the faces of all our residents.
In this season, where service is emphasized, please do what you can to welcome, understand, care, share, and accept. Faces will light with smiles.
Mark Smith is Mayor of West Liberty. He can be reached at 641-750-9278 or by email to mayorsmith@CityofWestLibertyIA.org.