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Kevin A. Parido

What we can learn from Monday vs. Tuesday… (MLK vs. our elected officials)

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

On Monday we celebrated the life and leadership of a man, Martin Luther King Jr. that was not confined, defined nor maligned by the popular but was led forward by convictions and principles. These convictions, principles, and values were deeply embedded in this heart. And MLK was a man that allowed the things written deep in his heart and life to work their way surface of his life. He allowed the things that burned within to move to words and actions that were in-line. Sanity as one author has said is having one’s inner desires in alignment with their outer behaviors. In that regard, MLK was one of the most sane people to walk this earth.

This sanity of Martin Luther King Jr. stands in deep contrast to what we witnessed yesterday (and I am afraid will witness in the days ahead) with our elected officials. We saw people not motivated by principle and convictions of what is right and good and whole for people, but primarily motivated by what will protect their party, their policy, their power and most importantly their future jobs. We are seeing politicking at its best or should I say, worst. This is not good, right or whole and yet, it is what we are seeing happen before our eyes.

Kevin, why are ranting about this? I am ranting about the contrast between Martin Luther King Jr. and our current elected officials for this reason: It convicts and challenges me, and hopefully will do the same for you.

You see my friends, the problem is not out there.  The problem, at the least the one we have control over, is within us.   We have convictions, principles and passions.  We have a sense or even a good hold on what is good, whole and right.  And if that is the case, then we have an obligation to strive to live aligned.  

Lives that are lived well do not happen by accident.

Instead, we choose and choose again and choose again to live aligned lives.

Furthermore, for those that are learners of Jesus, I will take this all one step further. Our alignment must be with the values of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God, or the reign of God is a way of simply saying God has a way for people to live. This way is life, and life to the full.

So I stand convicted today, to live in a way that is aligned with the good, the right, and the whole of the Kingdom of God. I know there is good to be done to those that I will see today. I know my family, my friends, my church and my community need me (and you all) to live you lives in a way that is aligned.

Alignment to the Kingdom begins with a choice of abandonment. Abandonment says, I leave the safety of my own protection, my own power, my own party and I choose what is right, good and whole.

You see, you have a choices today.

Choose wisely.

Choose well.

Your choice matters.

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

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