Today, we honor Dr King. His speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in my opinion was one of the greatest of all time. Jesus, with the Sermon on the Mount, President Lincoln at Gettysburg and this speech by Dr King was also one for the record books.

A great speech moves. It moves words and the word moves others to action. It touches the heart and illuminates Truth. I recall reading that some of Dr King’s staff tried to help him write his Dream Speech but at the end he ran with what God placed in his heart. Even staff and “handlers” can hinder you from staying on point.

As far as delivery he was as smooth as silk even in a very turbulent time. As a visionary he saw the mountain top even while still walking in the valley. He started off slow like many orators but once he hit his stride he was a Ferrari with no brakes. His remarks were both instructional and intentional. When he reached his climatic finish a frenzy errupted like a volcano but to his credit he knew the message was bigger than the messenger. He espoused hope and not hype and thanks to Heaven and hardwork – he overcame and many others have as well.

As a kid, I recall singing “WE SHALL OVERCOME” in elementary school holding hands with my friends of various skin color. Then and even more now I believe Dr King would be proud. Even greater, I know the Lord is pleased that we are better today than five decades ago. The journey is not over and together we still need to walk en route to the Promised Land as advocates of Truth and agents of grace.

It was a double honor for me to be with Meadowlark Lemon in Fall 2011, in Washington, DC. We reunited and did several events together and walked from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. Both are precious to me. The monuments and the man – Basketball icon MEADOWLARK LEMON. It is no secret that the US Capitol Building is my favorite and Ruth and I were engaged on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The very steps and near same spot that Dr King gave his amazing, anointed addres.

En route to the Lincoln with my childhood hero, Meadowlark and I went to the brand new addition on The Mall erected to Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Like Dr King, Meadowlark also knew about hardship and faced hurtful insults during the civil rights era. It was an honor to be at the memorial with ML during that moment. Both Martin Luther King & Meadowlark Lemon are larger than life to me and by God’s grace they both weathered some storms. Honestly, I felt so out of place to be standing next to two great giants.

I read recently that Walt Disney was fired from a job because they told him he had no imagination. Ironically, when we think of visionary we often think of Disney. Both Martin Luther King, Jr and Walt Disney were dreamers. Don’t let anyone tell you to stop dreaming. Some say its dangerous to dream but I believe its worse when we cease to dream. All the “greats” have a dream – what’s yours?

“WE HONOR THOSE WHO DREAM. THE NIGHTMARES ARE NOT WORTH REMEMBERING.”

Today, I am thankful for Dr King. Grateful for his work and his words. Words are powerful. They can build up or tear down. We may never give a speech with the whole world watching but the world does watch our life and lips daily. May we honor God vertically and bless our fellow man horizontally. Together, a vertical and horizontal line forms the cross and we find no greater love than Christ at Calvary.

Above is the famous “I HAVE A DREAM” speech and as powerful as that is many are unfamiliar or have forgotten the poignancy of his last remarks below. It is on the eve of his death and this was his address before the assassination. Dr King not only saw the mountain top but pointed others there in the process. Leadership not only leads but Lordship dies while leading. Christ paid the price and Dr King helped point the way. Today, as we continue to march on may we not only remember a man who had a way with words but an individual who allowed The Word to have His way with him. As we submit to Christ by faith and find God’s forgiveness then we too can clearly sing: “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty we are FREE AT LAST.”

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Recently, my good buddy, Jimmy Griggs in Nashville, TN contacted me and asked if I wanted to meet baseball great, PETE ROSE. Without missing a beat I said “sure.”

Speaking comes naturally to me but wisdom is found in LISTENING. Boy, am I glad I went and listened. On November 8, 2011, we met at the beautiful Omni hotel in Richmond, VA and it was an amazing two hour ride. Pete shared stories and statistics and what was staggering was not his swagger but his humility. He was still confident but not arrogant. WORD TO WISE: Winners are confident but should never be arrogant.

We can learn so much from others if we just pause long enough, give others the floor and allow them to speak. Over the years, I have been blessed to spend some time with some notable winners but we can glean just as much if not more from learning of another’s season of loss. Pete Rose has more hits than anyone to ever pick up a baseball bat. He was a beast at the ballpark and was nicknamed “Charlie Hustle” by the great Mickey Mantle.

He was the epitome of perseverance and the consummate “blue collar” ball player. He said many things that night that resonated with me but one that really hit home for me and I believe a life lesson for us all on this quote: “NO SINCE OPENING THE GATE AT THE BALLPARK IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE YOUR ALL AT THE GAME.” He knew firsthand that folks were coming and PAYING for not only a good time but to see great effort. People were paying to see him play at his profession and unless you were willing to give your all you should just stay home.

Another nugget that he shared that night was when he went yard on this statement: “Yes, I had 4,256 hits (the most of anyone) but I wouldn’t have got a single hit if it were not for the help of my Uncle who was a scout for the Cinncinnati Reds.” He said that contact and timing was priceless. Regardless of your vocation or profession may we never take for granted the rolodex of relationships we have and remember “timing is precious” and we should never waste it.

Pete went on to say: “I would have never made it today in the Big Leagues.” This statement really floored me and he really had my attention for what he shared next. He went on to note “the scouts today have tests to guage size, speed and stamina. They track how fast we can run and how far you can hit but their tests fail to record the most important fact. Their tests never pick up on what matters most – HEART & WILL.” Pete Rose was named “Charlie Hustle” because he worked harder than almost any other player on the diamond. What he lacked in speed and strength he persevered with heart and hard-work.

Ten times in his career he went an unprecedented 5 for 5 at bat. If you are new to baseball that means he got a base hit on all five times at the plate in that particular game. That is phenomenal when the very best reach base only 3 out of every ten attempts. 73 times in his career he went 4 for 4. Both of them are records to this date. Perhaps just as impressive is that he personally played in SIX World Series and his team won it all three times and lost three times. He made the ALL STAR team are you ready for this……17 times and picked by the fans to play an ALL STAR game in five different positions! That is un-heard of! Pete was not only hardworking and recognized the value of timing but he also had to be flexible. Life comes at us like a fast-ball but throws the elusive curve ball too. At your work, keep in mind that jobs are competitive, “politics” is part of every job and young guns will always be coming from behind eager to prove their merits.

Despite all his accomplishments to this day he is still banned from the Baseball Hall of Fame. What was even more ironic is this iconic player is not even allowed inside the Hall of Fame to tour the exhibits. You and I can buy tickets to view the museum but he is not even allowed on the property. He did share that Babe Ruth’s grand-daughter drove clear across New York just miles from the Baseball Hall of Fame when she heard that he was in town selling autographs. What she said next said meant the world to him. She said: “Pete, my grand-daddy would have loved the way you played the game.” Immediately, she hugged him and walked back to her car. Without question, we all have made some mistakes and I pray that Cooperstown may reconsider one day. Thank God, Christ restores and redeems regardless of what Major League Baseball elects to do.

On the way out, it was my honor to talk briefly to him. He did the talking that night and I am so glad I listened. We can learn through others wins but listening and learning from other’s loses may teach us even more. In life, all of us can relate to winning and losing. Some just won and lost on larger platforms. In closing, he shared that his hero was his father. I could relate to that.

After Pete’s talk it was an honor to get a picture with him and shake his hand and thank him for the memories. I told him God loved him and the batting champ took another swing. He signed a baseball for my beloved father and gave me an autographed bat to boot on the way out. That night I came to listen and he came to give. We all win when we listen to others. Thanks to my buddy, Jimmy Griggs for the open door and thanks Mr. Rose for hitting a “Grand Slam” in retirement. When it was easy to get bitter professionally you got better as a person and that night I was the fortunate one to be in your presence. Life ain’t over and its always time to “PLAY BALL!”

Over the years, I have learned that sometimes your success can scare the daylights out of others. Your gift may bring the best out of you but sometimes it extracts the worse from others. After her hurtful remarks to Rocky when she leaves; ironically his head is still ringing as if he endured another avalanche of assaults from Apollo Creed. When Balboa gets his bearings back he realized that the lady behind the counter is an acquaintance from years gone by.
Rocky says: “Yo, do I know you?” She doesn’t remember him at first but he then replies: “You’re little Marie.” Rocky in the original film walked her home one night because streets are no place for a kid. Rocky remembers a negative word that she (when she was much younger) said to him. She was blown away that he would remember her much less the words she said some three decades earlier. Rocky, went on to say: “Insults last a long time.” The fact is there is great power in the spoken word. The accuser never lost a wink of sleep over what she carelessly said to the soon to be champion of the free world but truth be told I bet not a day went by that either her words or the negative remarks of another rung Rocky’s bell like no opponent in the ring before or since.

I was taught as a child, if you don’t have anything nice to say – “DON’T SAY ANYTHING.” Just being real, I must admit that I have failed a few times but the older I get I am trying to do my best to take the high road (especially with my remarks). The Bible says: “To let our words be few.”

A milkman in the early 1970′s, would say “hello” to a five year old girl with big blue eyes and beautiful blonde hair. When he walked by on his weekly route he would tap her on the head as she played in the yard while dropping milk off on her front porch. He always said the same words: “Hello, Miss America.” She would smile with a grin the size of Georgia and continue to play and jump rope with her friends. Day after day, week after week when the milkman came by he said the same thing: “Hello, Miss America.”
Years, went by and the milkman’s job unfortunately became obsolete with his deliveries but those words danced in her head like a teen on a trampaline. In the early 1990′s that young little girl matured into a southern belle and was crowned Miss America from the Peach State. Most likely, that milkman didn’t see the future with her waving to the world with a sash across her shoulder as she beamed with beauty talking about “world peace” – or did he? We don’t know but the fact is those positive words sown in her life as an adolescent reaped a harvest for her as an adult.

Recently, Perry Stone showed a scientific experiment on world-wide television where a scientist had two containers of rice. The scientist had a label placed on the outside of both bottles and after 81 days he revealed his findings. Both containers had the same amount of rice in the cup and after the time alloted he displayed that one bottle had the rice in tact with very little deformation. However, the second cup was filled with fungus that made the stomach turn to look at. He then turned the containers to face the television viewing audience and on the cup that still had the rice looking fresh after 81 days the label had words scribbled from a child: “I LOVE YOU LITTLE RICE. I HOPE YOU HAVE A NICE LIFE and LIVE LONG.” The one filled with fungus had a note that read: “I HOPE YOU DIE!” The lesson speaks for itself.

It has been said: “We find life and death in the power of our tongue.” It also notes: “Our mouth speaks both blessings and cursings.” This should not be. Jesus said: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Friends, some of us need a CHECK UP from the NECK UP and our words should be seasoned with honey not spoiled with hypocrisy.

It has been said: “If one yells at a tree long enough that it will die.” I have not yelled long enough to test that hypothesis but I do know that if words can cripple a soul-less and heart-less grain of rice imagine what our words do to humans in our presence. In case you MISSED the MEMO: Life is a fight but we don’t have to battle everyone in our path. Today, we have the milkman in one corner who was a winner with words and built folks UP or we can resemble the reckless rehetoric of a negative wannabee who tore others down. Why be a chump when you can be a champ! WORDS are WONDERFUL until you use them to hurt others. Don’t delay – encourage someone today!