Yesterday morning while on the Nordic track at the gym (yes, I still work out), I watched an interview with Chris Matthews, former political show host of Hardball, who has just published a book coinciding with the 100th birthday of Bobby Kennedy (the original, not the sad namesake).
Entitled Lessons From Bobby: Ten Reasons Why Robert F. Kennedy Still Matters, the book discussed the attributes that Kennedy brought to us during his political life. One is courage. On that April night when MLK was assassinated, Kennedy on top of a truck and talked to a very angry group of blacks ready for vengeance. He had no bodyguards, just courage. Another was decency, something lacking in certain politicians today
Kennedy gave hope to a generation struggling for hope in the midst of a war many have come to regret. He provided moral leadership and spoke to our Nation’s highest ideals. For many of us the turmoil and dashed hopes of the 1960s seem far away, but it was a time when we as a Nation really sought to right wrongs and build a unified society.
Prayer for the Day
Memories of times in our past nudge us, O God,
Reaching within each of us for our hopes and longings.
Help us as we wrestle with the dreams and demons of our lives,
Bringing us to a new understanding of your will for the world.
Write within each of our hearts your law of love and justice,
As we strive to fulfill your promise of grace to the world.
In the name of the One who reminds us of our past,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968)
If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia
Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41: 10
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