If you want to be important—wonderful.
If you want to be recognized—wonderful.
If you want to be great—wonderful.
But recognize that he who is greatest
among you shall be your servant.

That’s a new definition of greatness.
And this morning, the thing that I like about it:
by giving that definition of greatness,
it means that everybody can be great,
because everybody can serve.

You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.
You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.
You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.
You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve.
You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.

And you can be that servant.

(excerpt from his last sermon, “The Drum Major Instinct,” delivered on February 4, 1968. Text copyright © The King Center)

I celebrate with all people today the memory, work, and spirit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968).
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[I originally wrote this benediction on December 16, 2001 after months of feeling hopeless and powerless in the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy here in the United States. Like many people, I felt religion had a great deal to do with what had happened and I felt something must be done about religion itself. I was initially leaning more toward abandoning religion and its institutions altogether. After much prayer and reflection, I realized that religion doesn't need to be rejected; it needs to be injected with more intelligence and compassion than we have ever given it in the past. It doesn't need to be abandoned; it needs to be upgraded. -- RTS]

My dear Family,

Once again time finds us on the brink of a new year. Though I have stumbled and fumbled in finding hope in the past few years, I am once again refreshed and renewed at the prospect of what lies ahead.

Our capacity to build a more humane way of life has never shone more clearly than in these shadowy times when the world is so at odds with itself. I am not speaking of grand gestures that we believe will sweep the soot and soil off the face of civilizations. I am speaking of far more modest moments. I am speaking of people, individuals, you and me. I am speaking of the decisions we make.

The decision to live in courage or to die slowly in fear is one we make everyday. The decision to awaken to creativity or to sleep in complacency is one we make every hour. The decision to grow in faith or to decay in doubt is one we make every minute. The decision to be happy or to be miserable is one we make every second.
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Bismi-llahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

I dedicate the Religion 2.0 blog and podcast to the upliftment of all beings.

May all beings be happy.
May all beings know who they really are.
May all beings take up the courage to create their life.
May all beings carry gratitude to enjoy the life they create.
May all beings practice lovingkindness above all other practices.
May all beings celebrate friendship with the Source of their being.
May all beings share their bliss with one and all.

It is my pleasure and privilege to be here with you,
here at the beginning of all things.

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.