Mom and MLK
If asked, most people can recall a favorite quotation from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. No doubt a selection from his “I Have a Dream” speech (1963) may come quickly to mind. There’s one saying of his that is not as impassioned or as famous that struck me by its profound simplicity when I first heard it.
In 1957, to an audience in Montgomery, Alabama, he said: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”
Whether you compare it to the “Golden Rule,” Christ’s new command, “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34), or His parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46), it reminds us that we must not live only for ourselves.
Dr. King’s words emphasize that service to others is at once universal (persistent) and compelling (urgent). We always should be alert to others in need and give in support as we are able. My mother often referred to it as “giving back,” a reference to Luke 12:48. She ingrained in me a disposition for serving others, and I’ve sought to provide a similar example to my children as well.
Frequently I’m asked, “What made you decide to run for the presidential nomination?” My instinctive answer is due to timing, and a desire to reach for something beyond my present situation, which is valid. Another part of the decision, though, comes from that penchant for service.
For about a decade, my church has hosted a blood drive. It began simply. A longstanding member of the congregation died, and I recommended conducting a drive with the Red Cross in his honor. The initial success led to a regular event, twice a year which I coordinated. When COVID closings took away many public buildings used for blood drives, the Red Cross appealed to us: would the church not only continue the drives but increase the frequency? The answer was a resounding, “yes.”
To date, we’ve held 39 drives and collected 1,547 units of blood. Though a modest contribution, I’m pleased that our rural community responded – and upped the ante during the pandemic!
Before my current position on the local school board, my community service included elected roles on municipal boards of selectmen and finance, as well as a stint as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. One of my favorite volunteer roles has been as a Little League umpire. It’s kept me close to a game I enjoy after my children finished participating. While many of my fellow umpires prefer baseball exclusively, I’ve always welcomed the opportunity to call softball games. I’ve been on the field for several postseason tournaments, behind the plate for the state championship game, and selected to officiate regional competition. Giving back often brings a measure of satisfaction, even if it brings opposition (especially as an umpire, when half the crowd disagrees with every call you make). As has been said, “No good deed goes unpunished.”
Here I am excitedly displaying a new pair plate shoes that I received as a gift!
As the campaign for presidential nomination enters its final month, I’m reminded of Dr. King’s question: “What are you doing for others?” This is an effort to advance our party and its ideals. It’s a foray into an unfriendly political setting in hopes of attracting others to do likewise, carrying ASP values and ideals into the public forum with confidence, integrity and civility.
That’s what MLK sought to do, and mom too.