Move from living a life of exorbitance to significance
He was born Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929. He was a very talented and articulate young man, skipping the ninth and twelfth grades. He was 15 years old when he started attending Morehouse College. With his skills, leadership, and education, he could’ve pursued a career in higher education. Instead, he chose to pursue ministry because he “concluded that the church offered the most assuring way to answer an inner urge to serve humanity.” He was the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tomorrow we celebrate the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. All over the country, folks will gather to serve, volunteering at local organizations in commemorate the life of Dr. King. It amazes me that a life cut so short, could produce so much valuable, life-changing work. At each major point in his life, I wonder what he was thinking, discerning. How did he know what to do? What was his model of decision making? I wonder if he had a time machine and could know what the future held, would he still make the same decisions? Would he still serve?
Do you ever look back on your life and wonder what would life be like if you didn’t do “this” or if you would’ve done “that”? I tend stay away from questions like this. Having too many “what ifs” in my mind can be somewhat overwhelming…and a complete waste of time. We don’t have time machines. We can’t go back and change a decision we made in the past. We can however, reflect on our decisions made and ask God for revelation wisdom to help us grow from our experiences – good and bad.
From reading the various biographies of his life, I’d venture to guess that Dr. King would not have changed a single thing about his life. I’m sure he would’ve loved more time with his wife and children. He probably would’ve appreciated the opportunity to witness some of the many historic changes that occurred after his death. But seeing how Dr. King made every moment of his short time here on earth count, is a true testament to making the most of every second we have. Dr. King knew his purpose. Dr. King knew he was called to serve and he did just that. I wonder if we are making the most of our time. Are we doing everything we can to live well? To serve well?
In just a few weeks, I will be the same age Dr. King was when he was assassinated. I look at my life and am so grateful for the many opportunities I’ve had to serve with and to lead others. I have made many mistakes and celebrated many wins. But I am not ready to leave yet. I have so much more to do. I have so much more to give. How about you my friend? Are you living your life to the fullest? Are you pursuing your purpose? Are you reflecting on your losses? Are you celebrating your wins? Or are you going through the motions of life like a robot – existing?
To just exist is a choice. If you are waking up everyday, going through the motions, you are not living. You are wasting time. Each day we are given 24 hours to live well. Even in the midst of bad circumstances, overwhelming odds, devastating loss, and unfortunate experiences, we must choose to live each day intentionally, committed to fulfilling our purpose. In the book, Intentional Living, John Maxwell says that an unintentional life accepts everything and does nothing. An intentional life embraces only the things that will add to the mission of significance. He goes on to say, that when people do nothing he thinks its “because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we become overwhelmed. The problems look too big for us to tackle. We say to ourselves, “What can I do? I’m just one person.”
“But one person is all that God needs to make something amazing happen. (Truth be told, He doesn’t even need one person. It’s a gift that He uses us to make some of the most amazing miracles happen. I digress.) “One person is a start. One person can act and make a change by helping another. One person can inspire a second person to be intentional, and another. Those people can work together. They can become a movement. They can make an impact. We should never let what we cannot do keep us from doing what we can do. A passive life does not become a meaningful life.”
Dr. King was one person who made an impact by doing all that he could to live his purpose as a servant leader. He was a living example of this quote by John Wesley. “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
Friends, what will you do today to live intentionally, serve well, live well? Let’s move together from existence to lives of significance.
Gina Watts is a former resident of Fayette County, now living in Columbus, Ohio. She serves multiple communities as an advocate, educator, and leader. Follow Gina on Twitter @professorgmarie.