A Critical Doer Tip Of The Hat To Dr. Martin Luther King

A Critical Doer works as hard to develop strength of character as strength of talent

A Critical Doer has a servant spirit 

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day, it’s important for a critical doer…one who is committed to critical thinking and willing to follow through passionately in doing…to reflect upon the lessons we learned from his thoughts and actions.

One of my favorite passages is from a collection of sermons written in 1963 called Strength To Love.  In that volume, he penned these words:  “Anyone can be great because anyone can serve.  You don’t need a college education to serve, your subject and verb don’t have to agree to serve.  All that’s required is a soul filled with grace and a heart filled with love.”  How can a critical doer not admire someone who defines greatness as a willingness to serve?

It’s also impossible for a critical doer to refrain from getting a bit misty from the part of “I Have a Dream” where Dr. King expresses his vision for a better world through the hope he has for his children’s future…“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Dr. King’s thoughts and actions helped heal a nation of its blindness.  Through his example we discovered the best in ourselves, each other, and our nation.  The spirit of his work is still relevant today and applies to us all.  We can’t be effective critical doers when bias and prejudice blind us to the character and talent of our fellow human being.  Our great nation continues to learn and grow through the legacy of Dr. King and many others that came before and after.

We celebrate more than a man today…we celebrate the very basis of our nation that cherishes the value of every individual.  I challenge you to watch a video or read a transcript of a Dr. King speech today and apply that lesson so that your organization will reach its full potential through the fulfillment of every individual.  It’s what a critical doer would…do!

 

 

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Updated: January 19, 2015 — 10:41 pm