by Beverly McNeff

My family and I visited Atlanta, Georgia, after one of our A Course in Miracles conferences in Florida a few years back. We had never been to the city, and as we toured, we stopped at the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr., the church where he was co-pastor (Ebenezer Baptist), and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. It was a beautiful and healing experience, and I was so grateful to have our son, who was in elementary school at the time, experience this significant part of our history. So, with the recent celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, I was reminded once again of this iconic peacemaker and his historic “March on Washington” nearly 63 years ago.

The purpose of the march was to call, once again, for the ideals of justice and equality for all. More than six decades ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, to deliver his masterful “I Have a Dream” speech. It is most remembered for its impassioned vision of a country where we can all walk together in unity. But did you know that the most memorable part of his speech was not written but inspired?

I recently saw an interview with Clarence B. Jones, a lawyer who helped King write the speech. Jones said he had written a few paragraphs that King did indeed read at the start of the speech, but when the iconic gospel singer Mahalia Jackson shouted from the crowd, “Tell them about your dream, Martin,” King put the prepared speech aside, and Spirit took over. King’s words spoke of a prophecy yet to be fulfilled, but they also spelled out hope.

It has been said that we in this country have become divided and tribalized; that angry and hateful words and acts have become normalized. But civility and kindness can win out if we remember our goal of unity. After all, we all breathe the same air and inhabit the same planet. Ironically, many who have enjoyed a privileged place in society are once again feeling threatened by “the other” out there.

From political leaders to “news” organizations to the dark corners of the internet, the perpetuation of hate and violence only creates more hatred and violence. Attack is the ego’s mantra, and it does not solve the problems; it only makes us more entrenched in them.

A Course in Miracles reminds us,

“…there is one problem and one solution. The problem is a grievance; the solution is a miracle.” (W-90.1)

Those sixty-three years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. experienced a miracle of spiritual awareness. It was a miracle of putting aside over three hundred years of oppression, and some could undoubtedly justify their grievances, but that was not his message. As Mahalia Jackson reminded him of another dream in which hope and transformation are possible, the Course does the same for us, as it says…

“A dream is given you in which he [those who are hateful] is your savior, not your enemy in hate. A dream is given you in which you have forgiven him for all his dreams of death; a dream of hope you share with him, instead of dreaming evil separate dreams of hate.” (T-29.V.7)

I see this passage in the Course as the same as King’s inspiration. I want you to read the portion of King’s speech where the Spirit took over…

“…I say to you today, my friends, that, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream. … I have a dream that one day in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today…This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning. ‘My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.’ And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that. Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountainside. Let freedom ring…

When we allow freedom to ring—when we let it ring from every city and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last, Free at last, Great God a-mighty, We are free at last.’ ”

King’s inspired and hope-filled words are still moving and needed today. They echo the message of A Course in Miracles. We are imprisoned anytime we hold hate and anger toward another, as in the case of a misguided 21-year-old in Florida, a few years back, whose anger for those of a different skin color led him to shoot them and then turn the gun on himself. We can certainly hold those responsible for their actions, and that is needed, but we also need to raise ourselves to a higher calling of peace.

It is time to stop supporting the ego’s anger and focus on peace in our lives. The section from the Course’s text that I quoted above continues with a deeper understanding of why we seem to want to stay in separate, evil dreams of hate.

“Why does it seem so hard to share this dream [of forgiveness]? Because unless the Holy Spirit gives the dream its function, it was made for hate, and will continue in death’s services. Each form it takes in some way calls for death. And those who serve the lord of death have come to worship in a separated world, each with his tiny spear and rusted sword, to keep his ancient promises to die.

Such is the core of fear in every dream that has been kept apart from use by Him Who sees a different function for a dream. When dreams are shared they lose the function of attack and separation, even though it was for this that every dream was made. Yet nothing in the world of dreams remains without the hope of change and betterment, for here is not where changelessness is found. Let us be glad indeed that this is so, and seek not the eternal in this world. Forgiving dreams are means to step aside from dreaming of a world outside yourself. And leading finally beyond all dreams, unto the peace of everlasting life.” (T-29.V.7-8)

The ego’s dream of fear is coming to an end because we have taken hate and attack out of the darkness and into the light. As you read this, we are sharing the light now, and we have the needed help through the Holy Spirit. Don’t worry that you do not know what to do, because He does. I want to leave you with this inspiring workbook lesson from the Course. It is promising the happy dream of peace and unity that is our guarantee.

Unless I look upon what is not there, my present happiness is all I see. Eyes that begin to open see at last. And I would have Christ’s vision come to me this very day. What I perceive without God’s Own Correction for the sight I made is frightening and painful to behold. Yet I would not allow my mind to be deceived by the belief the dream I made is real an instant longer. This the day I seek my present happiness, and look on nothing else except the thing I seek.

With this resolve I come to You, and ask Your strength to hold me up today, while I but seek to do Your Will. You cannot fail to hear me, Father. What I ask have You already given me. And I am sure that I will see my happiness today.

This is my dream. I hope you will join me in this.

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