Over the course of this last week, I had the privilege to participate in many activities that honored the life of Martin Luther King Jr. On January 16, some of my classmates and I had the opportunity to give back to our community by working in a community garden in our state's capital. It was such a rewarding experience to not only serve the people of Salem but to promote the legacy of MLK.

Following this activity, on Wednesday my university held a dinner to celebrate his life. At this event, we had a guest speaker who highlighted how MLK became to be who he is and the significance of his life and life's works. During this week, Western Oregon University (my university) also held an essay contest, where we were asked to write our response towards the following quote by Martin Luther King Jr.

“We must use time creatively, and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy, and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood.”

The student that won this contest is a friend, classmate, and I hope one day a future colleague of mine. At the dinner, he had the greatest opportunity to share what he had written with the rest of us. In short, he encouraged the audience to act on this quote and to not let a moment go where someone needs our encouragement or help. Now, anybody could read that quote and share the same thing as my friend did, but what set his speech apart was the fact that is was personal. His speech was personal because he included past experiences, and because he spoke from his heart. I have only known this classmate for a short time now, but I can already see the ways in which this quote plays a part of his life, and I know of the inspiration that he has given me and many others.

Later in the week, I also attended a poetry slam hosted by the Black Student Union club on our campus. Never having been to an event such as this before, it was very eye-opening. Personally, I did not share anything but listened as a small handful of students shared personal works or their favorite poems. Poetry can be dark, sad, and even scary, but it also can be encouraging, enlightening, and impactful. There were two students that I especially enjoyed, who both shared more than one piece that they had written, both being reflections on life. They both spoke with passion. They read what they had written as if they just were speaking to someone in the present. They made you feel uncomfortable because their words were relatable, and they shared difficulties that many have also faced.

Lastly, an activity that was not held by my school, I attended a bible study on Friday afternoon. Although not directly associated with MLK, I believe that the values of love, compassion, and serving others are ones that he honored and ones that we as believers do as well. We read in the book of Matthew, chapter five in the Beatitudes section. The verse that we focused on was verse three:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

One of the things that we discussed is what it means to be poor in spirit. To be poor in spirit is to recognize our great need for God and his son Jesus. To be poor in spirit is to be humble. And to be poor in spirit is to know that we are sinful and broken people. But here is the awesomeness of God on display, he doesn't leave it there, but he goes on to tell us that we will receive many blessings in the future, one being his kingdom--heaven.

I share this not because I believe I have it all figured out, but because we are all broken in need of God's grace. Our brokenness in found time and time again throughout our history. If we were perfect not in need of a savior, then MLK wouldn't have a need to fight for the rights of his people and equality. If we were perfect, we wouldn't need to encourage one another to be compassionate towards each other. If we were perfect, we wouldn't have so many people hurting. But here is the thing, we aren't perfect but broken.

So as I reflect on a week that was in honor of a man that was so great. I can say that I am grateful to attend a university who committed an entire week to recognize the work that he did, (and although not their intention) that reminded me of our brokenness and that allowed me to participate in activities that are devoted to the values of love and compassion.

Thank you, MLK week committee and Western Oregon University, for giving us students the opportunity to remember what true servanthood, community, and kindness looks life. Thank you, Martin Luther King Jr, and those who walked alongside him for never giving up and making way for greater change in our nation. Lastly, thank you, God, for reminding us that we are broken, but can be made whole by believing and placing our faith in your son's death, burial, and resurrection.

My hope is that my reflection can be encouraging to you and that you will "forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right " -MLK

Here are more words of wisdom, and words of hope from MLK:

“By opening our lives to God in Christ, we become new creatures. This experience, which Jesus spoke of as the new birth, is essential if we are to be transformed nonconformists . . . Only through an inner spiritual transformation do we gain the strength to fight vigorously the evils of the world in a humble and loving spirit.”

“The God whom we worship is not a weak and incompetent God. He is able to beat back gigantic waves of opposition and to bring low prodigious mountains of evil. The ringing testimony of the Christian faith is that God is able.”

“Christianity affirms that at the heart of reality is a Heart, a loving Father who works through history for the salvation of His children. Man cannot save himself, for man is not the measure of all things and humanity is not God. Bound by the chains of his own sin and finiteness, man needs a Savior.”