Earlier this week, we commemorated Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
For me, it brought back memories of watching his beautiful speech: “I Have a Dream.” Even as a teenager growing up in an area where there were very few black folks, I could feel the intensity of his words. His passion was unmistakable! Despite the chaos and despair, he could see beyond the circumstances.
Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Unity’s Daily Word Magazine shares these thoughts on the quote above:
These words remind me that even when a goal feels out of reach, even when I grow weary, even when progress feels too slow, I can maintain the vision I am working toward. This action helps me persevere and strengthens my resolve and determination.
~ Unity’s Daily Word Magazine, January 2026
How many of us who are watching or experiencing the chaos of today can honestly say, “I still have a dream”?
A friend of mine told me that she maintains hope, knowing that positive change can come out of chaos. How we see the world can be turned upside down during change. However, it can leave something more beautiful in its place – if we can work through it in grace.
This reminds me of the birth of my first child: A daughter. Maybe because this was my first child, but my labor seemed unusually difficult. (After giving birth to three more children, my first labor was indeed very difficult!). Despite the extreme discomfort, I looked forward to the beautiful baby I would give birth to. That was my focus that got me through the process.
Let’s learn to focus on Spiritual Renewal during this time. Spirituality & Health Magazine describes this beautifully:
As we step into a new year, may we remember that spiritual renewal rarely comes by force or willpower. It flows like water finding its way through cracks, softening what is hardened, reshaping the inner terrain of the heart and soul. We all experience the wilderness from time to time, that sense of being lost or disconnected. It is not punishment. It is preparation. It’s the sacred landscape where we, like Spirit, become artists of perception and renewal. As often as you will allow, the spirit or renewal helps you see the living water within all things, even within the dry desert of despair. Will you perceive it?
Perserverance is a virtue. But in times like this, I believe it is a way to stay focused on what we want to see in the world: love, peace, unity, and compassion. That is my dream!