I Have Decided to Stick With Love
I’m concerned about a better World. I’m concerned about justice; I’m concerned about brotherhood and sisterhood; I’m concerned about truth. And when one is concerned about that, he can never advocate violence. For through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can’t murder murder. Through violence you may murder a liar, but you can’t establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can’t murder hate through violence. Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.
And I say to you, I have also decided to stick with love, for I know that love is ultimately the only answer to humankind’s problems. And I’m going to talk about it everywhere I go. I know it isn’t popular to talk about it in some circles today. And I’m not talking about emotional bosh when I talk about love; I’m talking about a strong, demanding love. For I have seen too much hate. [...] and I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we aren’t moving wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who loves has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality.
And so I say to you today, my friends, that you may be able to speak with the tongues of men and angels; you may have the eloquence of articulate speech; but if you have not love, it means nothing. Yes, you may have the gift of prophecy; you may have the gift of scientific prediction and understand the behavior of molecules; you may break into the storehouse of nature and bring forth many new insights; yes, you may ascend to the heights of academic achievement so that you have all knowledge; and you may boast of your great institutions of learning and the boundless extent of your degrees; but if you have not love, all of these mean absolutely nothing. You may even give your goods to feed the poor; you may bestow great gifts to charity; and you may tower high in philanthropy; but if you have not love, your charity means nothing. You may even give your body to be burned and die the death of a martyr, and your spilt blood may be a symbol of honor for generations yet unborn, and thousands may praise you as one of history’s greatest heroes; but if you have not love, your blood was spilt in vain. What I’m trying to get you to see this morning is that a man may be self-centered in his self-denial and self-righteous in his self-sacrifice. His generosity may feed his ego, and his piety may feed his pride. So without love, benevolence becomes egotism, and martyrdom becomes spiritual pride.
Excerpted from Martin Luther King Jr's ​speech, "Where do we go from here?"
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What do you understand by the strong demanding love that the author talks about that is not "emotional bosh?" Can you share an experience of such love? What is a practical test that helps you check whether your work is filled with such love?
Add Your Reflection
16 Past Reflections
On Feb 29, 2016 Noriko wrote :
Wow! He said this...sorry for my ignorance. As I think of it, "I have a dream" speech is the only direct words from him that I have read. I thought I knew MLK Jr., read about him and watched documentary films. I was wrong. Thank you so much for this post.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 6, 2016 Sunil,Bangalore wrote :
The innate,intuitive and instinctive feeling of oneness with all living beings is demanding love.Its simply the manifestation of the existing nature of our very life force.The original quality of soul.Rarely when I happen to be one with my own self,I experience this love. As Kabir said " Hum sab mai,sab Hai Hum mai" is the test.No anger-hate-violence-ego.Every arising thought is Maitri Bhava.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 5, 2016 Zillah wrote :
For me, strong demanding love that is not emotional bosh is: accountable love, giving and receiving love, love that will bear change and disruption and last as love. Love that doesn't need from the 'other' or the 'you' in order to continue. Love that must be met. Love that fulfills itself in all things, not by preference or by prejudice. Love that must be, through it's own isness. Love that makes us our brother's keeper because we are our brothers, sisters, son, daughters, mothers, fathers, and friends, the kind of love that includes all faiths and all lack of faiths without discriminating between or comparing them, the kind of love that is exhausting and replenishing and most of all must give of itself to serve the whole of Loving.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 5, 2016 paashi wrote :
I want to excavate the essence of LOVE in myself and find words expressing it ,beautifully warm and heart expanding and yet-- this elusive, shy role of my soul feels just a touch away when pursued consciously. And yet it is always there-- quite an enigma
The mundane act of just being in the many roles of human journey brings in the fragrance of love.
In my sixth decade, it is the recognition that love is the quiet presence of self which is yearning to overcome the illusion of separateness. IIn 2016 --- to my evolving with others in the game called LIFE or as this posting says-- LOVE!
Post Your Reply
On Jan 5, 2016 Catherine Todd wrote :
My question is this: How does JUSTICE fit into all this? How do you "love" someone and still bring them to justice? I'm not advocating the death penalty, but how does a judge who assigns punishment (i.e. jail time) "love" the criminal? How do we "love" someone and still report their crime? We must have "rule of law" or we live in dangerous chaos. How to love at the same time?
1 reply: Heather | Post Your Reply
On Jan 5, 2016 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
2 replies: Luv4all, Kelei | Post Your Reply
On Jan 5, 2016 Sue Tennant wrote :
This is a very inspiring testimony to the possibility of a person aligning with Divine Love. So uplifting and life-affirming. Thank you so much!
It takes time and much experience to develop the mind capacity to conceptualize this kind of Love. It takes a passion for the pursuit of truth, beauty and goodness. It also takes commitment to serve humanity, especially the most vulnerable. And since the most difficult human decision is to forgive others, it is the most important. More than anything, it builds and maintains relationships, the social core of the brotherhood and sisterhood of the human family.
It's in partnership with God when the soul grows best, and that's when all things become possible. Even the one day possibility of a worldwide recognition that God is Love and Father of us all.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 4, 2016 Jay Shah wrote :
True meaning of love is described here. Many other positive attributes are great if come from love but if do not come from love - likely to come from ego or other motives and so are nothing compared to love itself. Living as a source of love (being internally as love) and then doing all external tasks through this love seems to be a message from this. Great explanation of love!!
Post Your Reply
On Jan 3, 2016 david doane wrote :
2 replies: Aj, Yvonne | Post Your Reply