40 years ago in Memphis

Almost 40 years ago in Memphis, the great man that was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. passed out of this world and into the next. Hearing his widow speak about the details of her experience on the day of his death nearly brought me to tears.

We will always remember Dr. King's dream, the idea. The idea is immortal, our children, and our children's children will know the idea, they will teach it to their children, and they will live for and because of it everyday. But, What about the man? Not the activist, or the pastor, or the legend; but the man. Mrs. King is no longer with us, and one day their children will join them. When they are gone, who will remember the man?

The man who played in his father's pulpit as a boy. The man who kissed his children goodnight and told them how much he loved them. The man who despite his human flaws, developed the immortal idea.

So every third Monday in January, I will be of service to my fellow man. I will observe the ideals of Freedom and Equality, the idea that will always be with us. But every January 15Th I will weep for the person, the mortal, the man who was taken from his family.