Issue No. 83

April 4, 2018

Just spend 3 minutes of your day and play this recording. Skip ahead on the recording to 4:18 and listen to Dr. Martin Luther King explain what he wanted said in his own eulogy as a way of highlighting his sermon about Jesus' teachings. Dr. King did not know when he gave this sermon that he would be soon be killed by an assassin's bullet 50 days ago today (April 4,1968).

Click here (and move to 4:18) to hear the recording, read the transcript and be inspired. This moving sermon will make you consider what your eulogy will say and what is really important in life. Those who call themselves "Christians" will hear in this speech a lot of what Jesus told his followers to do but too few actually do. Dr. King said how much he loved American but he did not speak of condemning certain lifestyles or telling people what they cannot do with their own bodies or how to vote. Dr. King instead talked about being remembered for doing things for others and making a difference. King explained that we all have the "drum major" instinct. He said,"We all want to be important, to surpass others, to achieve distinction, to lead the parade." King said he wanted to be remembered as a "drum major for justice."

We should all reflect on Dr. King's life today and then act as "drum majors for justice."

King's "Drum Major Instinct" sermon, given on 4 February 1968, was an adaptation of the 1952 homily ‘‘Drum-Major Instincts’’ by J. Wallace Hamilton, a well-known, liberal, white Methodist preacher. King encouraged his congregation to seek greatness, but to do so through service and love. King concluded the sermon by imagining his own funeral, downplaying his famous achievements and emphasizing his heart to do right.

(Source: http://kingencyclopedia.stanford.edu/)

This is what Dr. King said about his own funeral:

Every now and then I guess we all think realistically about that day when we will be victimized with what is life's final common denominator—that something that we call death. We all think about it. And every now and then I think about my own death and I think about my own funeral. And I don't think of it in a morbid sense. And every now and then I ask myself, "What is it that I would want said?" And I leave the word to you this morning.

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say.

Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize—that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards—that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school.

I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others.

I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. (Amen)

I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. (Yes)

And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.

I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison.

I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. (Amen) Say that I was a drum major for peace. (Yes) I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. (Yes) I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. (Amen) And that's all I want to say.

If I can help somebody as I pass along,

If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,

If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong,

Then my living will not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,

If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,

If I can spread the message as the master taught,

Then my living will not be in vain.

Yes, Jesus, I want to be on your right or your left side, (Yes) not for any selfish reason. I want to be on your right or your left side, not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition. But I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this old world a new world.

I may not win every case (even if in my heart I expect to). I just want an efficient system in which my client gets a fair hearing before a judge who works hard, knows the law, and does not play favorites. I also expect judges to appoint qualified amicus attorneys who zealously look after children (and who actually personally visit their minor clients in their homes). Is that asking too much? Stay tuned.

 

Greg Enos

The Enos Law Firm

The Enos Law Firm

  17207 Feather Craft Lane, Webster, Texas 77598

 (281) 333-3030    

www.divorcereality.com

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Attorney Greg Enos has been through his own divorce and child custody battle (he won) and understands what his clients are going through. Enos graduated from the University of Texas Law School and was a successful personal injury attorney in Texas City before he decided his true calling was to help families in divorce and child custody cases. Greg Enos is active in politics and in Clear Lake area charities. He has served as President of the Bay Area Bar Association and President of the Board of Interfaith Caring Ministries. The Enos Law Firm serves clients in Galveston County, Brazoria County and Harris County, Texas.

Greg Enos

Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

The Enos Law Firm

281-333-3030

www. divorce reality.com