…this I put on my Facebook page for Monday—16Jan17:
A number of months back, when last in Washington, DC, it was a cold, blustery, winter day. If, whenever, I'm within 50 miles of the Lincoln Memorial, there is a personal pilgrimage I put into the schedule to stand on the very step inscribed with "I have a dream…" I have now stood there, over these years, in the middle of the night, and the middle of the day, and times in between.
I've stood there in snow storms, and sweltering heat and humidity. But my favorite time of all was last time.
Two busloads of students of color scurried off their buses and made a dash for this very step. Huddling together, laughing, their leader quieted them down, and then said, "OK students...on three! One! Two!! Three!!!"
What happened next brought tears to us all, even a couple of olde National Park Service people who were standing by me...and yup, tears rolled down. One of the Park Service men, standing next to me, wiping his eyes, said, "That was one of my finest moments here."
What happened? In unison, faces full of hope, in one voice, loudly, they quoted the entirety of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. A moment in my own life I'll not forget.
When the final word was spoken, they raced into the memorial and sang an amazing rendition of "America the Beautiful" twice...once, as written, beautiful harmony...and my favorite, if you can stretch your imagination, a second time with a good bit of soul in the performance, if you can even begin to imagine that. ;-)
So...on this day...what is your own dream for your own place in our world where only you can be making a difference in our world? There is that place because there is the one and only you who is alive at this moment in time, by design, from on high.
It is to this end, via Leadership Design Group, that I live out the rest of my own days...for I, too, fast approaching 75, still have dreams to live into. What an honor and sacred trust it would be to hear some of yours. (74+226)
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…these thoughts accompanied this picture of the Washington Monument from the very step where Martin Luther King gave his famous speech...........
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