April 4th, 2011 - for some it is just another blue Monday, for others it could be a birthday celebration, or a day in which you feel inspired to get going and make a difference. In the light of world shaking moments and people who have inspired our 21st century world, we must remember that on this day in 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated.
As we consider the work of justice and reconciliation, we are called to consider our role in bringing about change in our worlds arrange. In the life of Dr. King there were struggles, conflicts and chaos, but one must acknowledge the power of sharing one’s dream. Had Doctor King been assassinated without having shared his dream, the vision of a beloved community may have never been realized as it has been in our 21st century world.
May we find our place and space to hear the call and take action to explore the pursuit of justice and reconciliation in our 21st century world with fierce Urgency! "We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today," King reminded his audience in 1967. "We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The 'tide in the affairs of men' does not remain at the flood; it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: 'Too late.' "
Fierce Urgency: another brilliantly capitulated phrase, that drives us today to consider the reality of the here and now. King’s prophetic words were ever so relevant and real as it now. We must decide to act now for the future of people, for the future of our youth, for the future of our humanity. Fierce urgency should drive us with bravado and a passion-ful ‘loveforce’ to drive home a message to the powers of the day that we as a global citizens who recognize the pain of our world, and the pain of our society, those of us who live with our backs against the wall, sometimes the wall is so embedded in our backs we don’t know the difference anymore between our backs and the wall that is pressing our backs.
But in this moment of sometimes what can be sheer agony, and not having no-where to turn will there a be a person-will there be a people-that will rise with a love force, that drives home a point that we must see justice roll, that we must see peace! Will we stand up and be counted- knowing that we are reminded by the voice of King, knowing that we are reminded by the voice of the prophets, knowing that we are reminded by the continued systemic injustices and inequalities that we see in our everyday world.
May fierce urgency take a grip of our minds, hearts, body and soul. We want to see healthy people, living healthy lives, wholesome lives, where families can eat a meal together, father’s can love their kids and kids can love their fathers, with a fierce urgency, like there is no tomorrow.
Seth Naicker
Managing Partner
indiAfrique training & development
Director
Reconciliation Diversity & International Affairs
In collaboration with Young&Able
seth@indiAfrique.co.za
