I AM INSPIRED

I  was inspired as I watched Michael Jackson's Memorial Service. Yes, I'm a day late (computer hell kept me from getting this out)--but take a moment and see if you feel inspired, too.

Let me say upfront that it doesn't matter if you like Michael Jackson or hate him. It doesn't matter if you like the gentlemen I'm going to quote, or hate them. The truth is, their words are universal--and they apply to you and me.

I'm going to keep my own commentary to a minimum, hoping that your own imagination is sparked, and you find places of hope, drive and intention within yourself and these words. 

Martin Luther King III spoke half-way through the service. Here is a transcript of the majority of his speech: 

"My father once said that in life, one must discover what their calling is. Must do their job so well that the living or the dead or the unborn could do them no better. He constantly challenged us to become our best by stating that if you cannot be a pine on the top of the hill, then just be a shrub in the valley--but be the best little shrub on the side of the road. Be a bush, if you cannot be a tree. If you cannot be a highway, be a trail. If you cannot be the sun, be a star--for it isn't by size that you win or you fail. You've got to be the best of what you are. Michael Jackson was the best of what he was.

 "My father also said, 'In life, if it ever befalls your lot to be a street sweeper, then sweep streets so well--in fact, you must sweep streets like Beethoven composed music; like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets like Rafael painted pictures. Sweep streets so well that all the hopes of heaven and earth would have to pause and say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper that did his job well.'"

 I am inspired by the genius of Michael Jackson--the fact that he became, unquestionably, the best of what he was. Watching him over the last two weeks, I am inspired to sweep my streets as well as he swept the stage with his feet.

Al Sharpton spoke before MLK III, but it is fitting to end this essay-of-sorts with his words. I invite you to consider two questions as you read. How would it feel to have these words spoken about you? And...What do you need to start doing now so that they are? 

"Michael never let the world turn him around from his dream...[From the time he was a kid till now] he never gave up dreaming...Because Michael kept going; because he didn't accept limitations; because he refused to let people decide his boundaries--he opened up the whole world. Because Michael Jackson kept going, he created a comfort level, where people who felt they were separate became interconnected though his music...

 "Michael rose to the top. He out-sang his critics. He out-danced his doubters. He out-performed the pessimists. Every time he got knocked down, he got back up. Every time you counted him out, he came back in. Michael never stopped. Michael never stopped.

 "I am not here to say good-bye. I'm here to say thank-you.
Thank you because you never stopped.
Thank you because you never gave up and never gave out.
Thank you because you tore down our divisions.
Thank you because you eradicated barriers.
You gave us hope.
Thank you, Michael. Thank you, Michael. Thank you, Michael."

I am inspired to out-sing my critics, out-dance my doubters, out-perform the pessimists. To get back up. To come back in. To never stop. And I want everyone I've touched to be grateful that I did. To be grateful that I discovered what my calling is, refused to let anyone decide my boundaries--and a result, did my job so well that the living or the dead or the unborn could do it no better.

I look forward to experiencing your greatness. And the world awaits it, too.
May today be a reminder to never, never, never give up.
And may it also be a challenge to you to become the very best of what you are. Michael-Jackson-best.