Three events are taking place today, January 20th. It is a federal holiday to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It is Inauguration Day for the 47th President of the United States. And Ohio State will play Notre Dame in the College Football Championship.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote a Christmas Letter on December 25, 1962 that we can reflect upon today.
Peace and good will, the simplest and most elusive of dreams, the dreams of this season, begin with the individual before they can be extended to collective man. So let us begin with ourselves.
If we as individual human beings will spurn selfishness, we shall appreciate the value of true love of self, and the exhilarating beauty of living. And if we recognize that all people can become truly alive and beautiful, we will understand the cosmic truth that all men are brothers and inseparable. Then we will see where we must go and how we must live. Real brothers cannot kill each other, are incapable of oppressing each other, and are utterly unable to hate each other because they are as one in the embodiment of dignity and respect.
We who know we are brothers therefore have a duty to bring others back into the broken family of man and into our world house. In the context of the modern world we must live together as brothers or we shall perish divided as fools.”
On this Inauguration Day, we can also reflect upon the words of Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), the great early French commentator on America who said:
“I sought to find the greatness and the genius of America in her harbors and rivers – and it was not there….in her fertile fields and boundless forests – and it was not there, in her rich mines and her vast world commerce – and it was not there….in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there.
“Not until I went into her churches and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
“America is great because she is good. If America ever ceases to be good,
America will cease to be great.”
Knute Rockne was the legendary coach of Notre Dame for 13 seasons (1918-1930). His teams had 105 victories, 12 losses and 5 ties. They won 3 National Championships. Here are some of Knute Rockne’s notable quotes –
Win or lose, do it fairly.
I’ve found that prayers work best when you have big players.
When you were riding on the crest of a wave, you were most likely missing out on something.
Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points.
Let’s win one for the Gipper.
Drink the first. Sip the second. Skip the third.
Which of these three events will get most of YOUR attention today? Why do YOU say that?
LIFE IS TOO SHORT, THE WORLD IS TOO BIG AND GOD’S LOVE IS TOO GREAT TO BE JUST ORDINARY!!