Sometimes I think
procrastination rivals pride as the most serious sin. Every day, we forfeit small, ordinary, but
significant opportunities to make to make a difference and to grow, because we’re
waiting on a better and more convenient time.
I’ll get to it later. I’ll do it
tomorrow. I’ll start on that after
school begins, after school’s out, after Christmas, on New Year’s, after my
birthday, on next Monday. When things
settle down. In a few minutes, in a
little bit, after a while.
And, we countenance and
conspire in delay on important, crucial matters of justice, mercy, and
transformation. “We’re not ready for
that. Let’s not rush into anything. Let’s conduct a feasibility study or appoint
a blue-ribbon panel to make future recommendations.” We’ll do almost anything to keep from doing
anything.
conspire in delay on important, crucial matters of justice, mercy, and
transformation. “We’re not ready for
that. Let’s not rush into anything. Let’s conduct a feasibility study or appoint
a blue-ribbon panel to make future recommendations.” We’ll do almost anything to keep from doing
anything.
In Martin Luther King
Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech,” which echoed in the national conscience this past
week as we remembered his having given it 50 years ago, he said:
Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech,” which echoed in the national conscience this past
week as we remembered his having given it 50 years ago, he said:
We
have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of
Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the
tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of
democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of
segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our
nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of
brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s
children. It would be fatal for the
nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.
have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of
Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the
tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of
democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of
segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our
nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of
brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s
children. It would be fatal for the
nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.
Jesus honored the fierce
urgency of Now. Why wait when it’s
possible to heal, to help, to love, to serve, to grow, to do justice, to show
mercy and to love kindness now? I know
that here are some situations in which it is difficult to see what might be a
right and good next thing to do. All the
more reason then, not to put-off, postpone, and squander the opportunities we
have to stand up and help others to stand up to life’s challenges and
opportunities—to rise up and to help others to rise up to the dignity and
fullness of life God intends. It’s
always the right time for the right thing.
urgency of Now. Why wait when it’s
possible to heal, to help, to love, to serve, to grow, to do justice, to show
mercy and to love kindness now? I know
that here are some situations in which it is difficult to see what might be a
right and good next thing to do. All the
more reason then, not to put-off, postpone, and squander the opportunities we
have to stand up and help others to stand up to life’s challenges and
opportunities—to rise up and to help others to rise up to the dignity and
fullness of life God intends. It’s
always the right time for the right thing.
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