“I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream. I have a dream. That one day, this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” (Martin Luther King, Jr., Independence Day 1965 in Atlanta.)

This last Father’s Day Cheryl gave me a gift that touched me deeply. On the National Mall in Washington, D.C. a memorial is being constructed honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. For a contribution of a set amount, one can become a “sponsor” of this memorial and at some time in the near future the names, Rev. Roy R. Riggs and Dr. Cheryl Riggs will appear.

I am so moved by this because Dr. King has been a hero of mine for over forty years. This is not to say that I have always been able to follow his example. Dr. King’s activism was rooted in a deep and abiding faith, and that faith taught him that:

” . . .unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final say in reality.”

I have been too hot-headed at times toward those who demean others, and while I would not physically harm anyone, I could certainly do it verbally. This was not Dr. King’s way. Nor of course did he simply let people walk over him, but his response was more pure and filled with the conviction that oppressor and oppressed alike were children of God.

I still strive to be more like my hero.

Who is your hero? Who inspires you to live a better life? Think about that and somehow place that model before you every day. Stretch and grow in your life and spirit to be more like your hero, and every day you will find yourself getting better. For God puts heroes in our lives to show us how to become better than we are.

I’ll see you in church.
~ Roy