In his speech to the sanitation workers on strike in Memphis TN on April 3, 1968, Dr. King said,
Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.
And I don’t mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!
And so I’m happy, tonight.
I’m not worried about anything.
I’m not fearing any man!
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!
One could ask if Dr. King should have followed his premonition and avoided his death, but because he had seen the glory, that was not an option. He remained the prophet until the end. I am grateful for his commitment and courage and for that of all leaders and workers of the Civil Rights movement in an era which meted out dire consequences to conscience-sayers.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm
Spirituality Without Borders: Reflections on Spiritual Practice 
Years ago while studying the mythologist Joseph Campbell’s, book, ” The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” I applied his basic formula for the hero’s journey to Martin Luther King: He answered the call to adventure, encountered many obstacles he had to overcome, received help from others on the journey who were sent to assist him, died to his old self, and is reborn every year as an “apotheosis,” bestowing blessings on many people. His prophetic sermon the day before his death, affirms for me there is an universal archetype that is in all of us, some chose to answer the call, we all encounter obstacles whether we say yes or no, we are sent ones to assist us, we sometimes take the help, at any rate we die and are reborn, many times, giving and receiving blessings, until we become the blessing. Martin Luther King died to self, and became the blessing, yet most of us, see only the outside, and react from there, therefore can’t receive it. We will not get to the mountain top, or see the promise land, until we are integrated from within.
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I deeply appreciate your comment. It lends richness and meaning to the post. I love how you put it….until he (we) become the blessing. Thank you.
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Thank you Rita, you are the Blessing to the Dominican family. Thetruthshallmakeyoufree, Diana
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How wonderful is it that this visitor to SWB is our very own Diana! Thank you, my sister! I am quite certain that I am the only Dominican Mennonite on earth.
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