Love Will Have The Final Word

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.
-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, December 10, 1964

Today we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To commemorate this day, I went for a walk in nature while I listened to one of Dr. King's speeches. It was a speech given to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the writing of the Declaration of Independence. In it, he talked about the promises that America had not yet fulfilled. He discussed police brutality, unequal pay, and segregated education. I found myself in tears as I listened to all the obstacles facing Black Americans during that time. I found myself in tears because much of what Dr. King said still applies today.

After I had a moment to grieve the loss of Dr. King as well as the sadder chapters of our history, I found myself wishing that as a society we could say that Dr. King's dream has been completely fulfilled. Just when I was feeling despair, Dr. King began talking about the nature of good. In essence, he said that good would always ultimately triumph over evil. He spoke about hope and the necessity of faith.

When we operate from a space of faith, we understand that defeat is temporary and that the highest good is always done. Truth and love are powerful forces that we have at our disposal. We have been given free will to apply them liberally.

Love will have the final word.

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