In the wake of the observance of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., increasing emphasis is being placed on the underlying motivation of his greatness often attributed to his eloquence of pen through speeches and letters. Upon listening to the commentary of those closest to him in life and on that fateful day in Memphis the animating force which propelled this humble man of no significant means was love expressed through his eloquent pen but more impressively and indelibly through his sacrificial life of demonstrating that love–of his family, his race and especially of his country, in spite of much of its shameful past, present and inevitable extension into the future. While scores of others continue to address the inequities of life and this nation through books, articles, and eloquent commentary, one meager man of God took it upon himself to organize small groups of victims and sympathizers to tackle one particular problem at a time gaining increasing support and respect with each. As one close associate and admirer stated, had Dr. King remained alive today he would be just another near 80-year-old man of wisdom. With unique experiences in our nation’s struggle for liberty and justice for all citizens. It took his martyrdom to bring worldwide attention to the gross injustices of this super nation to add impetus to the struggle and subsequently immortalize him, a fact that appeared to be made evident to him toward the end which he made peace with and accepted with brave acquiescence.
Dr. King was not the architect of the non-violent movement. Many others have spoken of it but Dr. King was the prime demonstrator of it, even before recognizing it as his life’s purpose. This brings us to the principal underlying factor in today’s unbridled society-no sense of purpose.
Without a sense of purpose, life is meaningless–“you’re born, you waste time, you die,”–regardless of one’s socioeconomic status. Without meaning or a true sense of purpose, one’s life lacks motivation resulting in a misspent sense of values and priorities. Lacking motivation and vitality one has no sense of direction, no feeling of destiny or sense of future, and in the absence of spiritual motivation, physical desires stand ready to fill the void. When one abandons himself to physical desires and lets them become the determinants of his behavior he becomes lower than the animal who can’t help being an animal whereas man has a choice, being endowed with mental and spiritual superiority.
The days of idle worship and deifying the wisdom of sages, seers, and philosophers are now past and we are told in the Baha’i Holy Writings, “Today nothing but the purest of deeds will suffice.”
We also read, “The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight path, the fixed and immovable foundation. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure.”
