Focus on the Message

The nation recently enjoyed a day celebrating the life accomplishments of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Without a doubt, the world is a better place as a result of Dr. King rocking the boat and ruffling the feathers of those who were unwilling to sit and listen to good counsel.

Because of his humanitarian efforts, [racial] tensions have abated, tolerances have increased, and peace is a concept not too hard for contending ethnicities to embrace. Despite all that the world is striving with, Dr. King's dream still seeks to make inroads into the lives of many. Undoubtedly, his dream and efforts have a far reaching, if not global, impact.

Dr. King's legacy is one that encourages us all to invest ourselves deeply into goodwill. It brings a smile to our faces and makes us proud of our country, despite the sordid past and recurring infractions.

With such an influence, and the genial mood that thoughts and memories of Dr. King engender, I found it tasteless and ill-timed for an article to be published that stated that January 18, 2010 (the very day that we celebrate Dr. King's legacy) is "the most depressing day of the year".

The researcher credited with the finding alleges that his theory is the result of a complex string of equations that incorporated data gleaned from reliable sources. The article was published on one of MSN's lifestyle websites. While the article does call attention to serious issues that modern humans are faced with, I find it extremely troubling that the researcher who presented his case would arrive at such a date for his theory.

Despite the melancholy mood that the article suggests, I remain encouraged by Dr. King's work and suggest that you do, too. As a people that God watches over, we will hear unsettling messages that seek to steal our joy. Resist the urge to listen to the negativity. Listen, instead, to words of encouragement. Words of inspiration. There is a wonderful scripture in the Bible that speaks to this very issue, and was relevant even back when Dr. King was alive. It's found in Hebrews 6:10 and says "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Because of that, I believe that Dr. King's message, and not the message in the article, will prevail.

Be strong, and concentrate on the message of Dr. King's dream. Strong Christian values are present there. It's a message that God wants us to be aware of, but the devil wants us to miss.


God bless you, as you bless others.
Elder Scott Hampton