Clergyman's

Jesus recognized the need for blending opposites. He knew that his disciples would face a difficult and hostile world, where they would confront the recalcitrance of political officials and the intransigence of the protectors of the old order. He knew that they would meet cold and arrogant men whose hearts had been hardened by the long winter of traditionalism. ... And he gave them a formula for action, ""Be ye therefore as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."" ... We must combine the toughness of the serpent with the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.
- "Martin Luther King, Jr."

Jesus recognized the need for blending opposites. He knew that his disciples would face a difficult and hostile world, where they would confront the recalcitrance of political officials and the intransigence of the protectors of the old order. He knew that they would meet cold and arrogant men whose hearts had been hardened by the long winter of traditionalism. ... And he gave them a formula for action, ""Be ye therefore as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."" ... We must combine the toughness of the serpent with the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.
- "Martin Luther King, Jr."

Jesus recognized the need for blending opposites. He knew that his disciples would face a difficult and hostile world, where they would confront the recalcitrance of political officials and the intransigence of the protectors of the old order. He knew that they would meet cold and arrogant men whose hearts had been hardened by the long winter of traditionalism. ... And he gave them a formula for action, ""Be ye therefore as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."" ... We must combine the toughness of the serpent with the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.
- "Martin Luther King, Jr."

I would like to take your minds back many, many centuries into a familiar experience so significantly recorded in the sacred Scriptures. The Children of Israel had been reduced into the bondage of physical slavery... three groups of people emerged. One group said in substance that ""We would rather go back to Egypt."" They preferred the flush parts of Egypt to the challenges of the Promised Land. A second group that abhorred the idea of going back to Egypt, and yet they abhorred the idea of facing the difficulties of moving ahead to the Promised Land and they somehow wanted to remain stationary and choose the line of least resistance. There was a third group, probably influenced by Caleb and Joshua who had gone over to spy a bit and who admitted that there were giants in the land but who said, ""We can possess the land."" This group said in substance that ""We will go on in spite of...,"" that ""We will not allow anything to stop us,"" that ""We will move on amid the difficulties, amid the trials, amid the tribulations.
- "Martin Luther King, Jr."