Dear God, it’s the day we observe the birth and life of Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, it is January 16. The actual day was yesterday, in 1929. Ninety-four years ago. Conceivably, he could still be alive today but for what happened 55 years ago this year on April 4.

I run a nonprofit that serves low-income people. I’ve sometimes been asked why our nonprofit observes MLK and not President’s Day. It’s a good question. I haven’t had a good answer for it, but I actually took some time to think about it this morning, and I think this picture exemplifies why I put honoring him on a different level than honoring presidents. He was willing to purposefully put himself in danger and jeopardy for the sake of others. While the men who have been president have often sacrificed to get the office, they were doing it as much for themselves as they were for the country. But my perception is that MLK was willing to use his political capital and spend it on others. He risked things that I don’t believe more than a few presidents risked. He could have stayed at home, written books, and make great speeches. Instead, he went to Birmingham, got arrested for trying to stand up for others and then, when eight white pastors wrote public statement while he was in jail, rebuking him and his followers, he wrote one of the most eloquent pieces of literature I’ve ever read (Letter from a Birmingham Jail).

So here I am. I have political capital in my small community. How do I use it? Do I make myself uncomfortable for others? Do I use it for them, or do I use it for me? I was asked to spend some of my capital this weekend for something that I didn’t think was a wise use of it (and it didn’t fit into this sort of category so I have no regrets). That was an easy no. But are there other things that your Holy Spirit puts on my heart that I decline? Do I really care about others, or do I just care so long as it’s not too inconvenient for me?

Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please guide me. Speak to me. Give me ears to hear. Give me eyes to see. I know MLK wasn’t perfect. I know he had weakness and sin in his life. I do too. I also know that he seemed to really love you. He seemed to not only be able to hear your Holy Spirit directing him, but also willing to respond and obey. I hate to pray this because I am afraid of what it would mean for me, but give me that ability and willingness too.

Amen