MLK Day

Today is the day we remember the great leader, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr and all the lessons he taught us. Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, GA Dr King would be 95 today, had he not been shot and killed back in 1968. Just four days after his death, Representative John Conyers introduced a motion to make King’s birthday a federal holiday, but it wasn’t until 1979 that the House of Representatives voted on the motion. It failed to pass by five votes.

In 1983, Congressmen Jack Kemp, Newt Gingrich, Jim Wright and Tip O’Neill gave speeches in support of the holiday, and it passed in the House by 53 votes. Senator Jesse Helms adamantly opposed the bill and accused King of being a communist.   It passed in the Senate anyway, but by just twelve votes.  The bill made its way to President Ronald Reagan’s desk and he signed it into law in November 1983.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first celebrated in 1986, although it would be over a decade before all fifty states adopted the holiday. In the years since its adoption into law, the holiday has been marked every third Monday of January. In many parts of the country, it isn't just a day off from work or school, but a day to give back and make a difference. There are marches and rallies and speeches. 

How will YOU observe this day? What are your plans to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.? MLK Day has always been about service and this year shouldn't be any different.  Your participation does make a difference.

The Boy and the Starfish

All good stories begin with "Once upon a time," right? Well here's one, that was adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977). You might find it reminding you of a similar story I recently told about a dog, and the message is really the same, so read on.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a little boy, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" said the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the boy replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Indeed. It made a difference for every single starfish the boy threw into the water. The message this morning is clear, and it's one I have I shared over and over. WE can make a difference. WE can be superheroes. WE can do some pretty incredible things. If we throw our hand up in surrender and don't even try to make this a better world, of course we won't be giving back, but each of us can and should give back in our own way. If it seems overwhelming and that our contributions won't make a bit of difference, remember the story of the boy and the starfish!

Baby it's cold outside

It's winter.  It's cold. Here in Arizona where I live, it's been down in the 30s every night this week, and we even had a bit of snow already. Now is a good time to remember your farm animals or pets and to especially remember the homeless who are outside all the time.

Nice clean warm socks, sturdy shoes, and warm blankets to cover yourself, and of course a good sturdy overcoat are all so very helpful to those in need. A Texas organization called Project Warm Us can use donations and volunteers. Find out more at http://www.projectwarm.us/ A Nashville based organization called Soles4Souls distributes shoes to needy people and, I'm told is also now distributing coats. Their website is https://soles4souls.org/ There are churches and other organizations in communities across the country that do collections and give these things to the needy. Check around where you live, and if you don't find anything, consider beginning a program of your own. The thanks you get back will warm your hearts!

When I lived in San Francisco, we had an annual memorial for people who died outside on the street. Many of those died because of the cold. Most of those deaths could have been prevented. Let's step up and do something.

One

Back in the 70s, Three Dog Night sang that "one is the loneliest number."  It doesn't have to be though.  One can multiply very quickly.  One can make a huge difference.

I have heard people say "what can I do"?  Plenty.  If you think that your single vote doesn't matter, you are mistaken.  If you think that your volunteer shift at the library isn't that important think about what doesn't get done when you aren't there.  We all have special skills, and we all can make a difference.  That's what this blog is all about.  

When we see bad things happening, we can speak up and say that we want good.  We want positivity.  Change for the batter begins with each of us.  We really can make a difference.

One person is seldom really alone. It might begin that way, but quickly you might be joined by others who also want to make a difference. Changing the world for the better is the daily regular occupation for people who dare to get involved. You can be that person.

 

The Parable

This being Sunday, how about a parable? 

A man was taken on a tour of both heaven and hell. In hell he was shown a banquet hall filled with diners seated at a table that was covered with all kinds of delicious food. Each person’s back and left arm were tied to the chair so that bending at the waist was impossible, and the left arm could not move. The right arm was stiffened so that the elbow would not bend. The people at the table could gaze at the delicious spread and they could smell the aroma of the food, but they were starving.

In heaven, the picture was the same – backs and left arms shackled, right arms stiffened – but the diners were feasting and rejoicing, because each diner used his stiffened right arm to feed the person to his or her right. It was a picture of people working together, in other words – it was cooperation. How wonderful!

Of course, we don’t have to wait to get to heaven to have this kind of teamwork. It really is quite easy to do things for each other, right here on earth! Oh and before you ask what part of the Bible this parable comes from - it doesn’t. This isn’t a parable of Jesus, but one that we mortals came up with and which has been told and re-told. The point is a very good one though: cooperation - helping others - making a difference. It's a story that illustrates the very thing we talk about here every day.

If you like your parables to come from Scripture and have to have some backup from the Bible, let’s look at the words of Blessed Paul the Apostle, who in his letter to the Philippians wrote “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” I could not have said it any better!

New Year greeting

Happy New Year everybody and welcome to 2026.  The year is just hours old and already there has been tragedy.  Smoke and flames turned celebration into horror at a Swiss Alpine resort less than two hours after midnight.  Over a hundred people are severely injured and there are numerous deaths.

There is probably more negative news, but I prefer to focus on the positive. Here is an example. Beginning today, large health insurers in California will be required to cap the insulin copay at $35 for a 30-day supply. Around 2 million Americans require insulin to live. This law only applies to California but is certainly good news.

Of course we can always contribute to the good news.  Help your neighbor.  Get involved.  Care about your community.  Be a hero.  All of us can work toward better tomorrows.  All of us can make a difference. As 2026 begins, let us resolve to be better people and to work for a better world.

Thanks for reading this these past eighteen year.  May 2026 be a great year for all of us!