The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was an inspired man. No matter how many times I read or hear it, his “I Have A Dream” speech moves me to tears. He paints a picture in words of the kind of world I want to live in now and for the future.
Can you imagine what would have happened if he gave that speech as a Power Point presentation?
It’s horrible and laughable at the same time! For something so profound, an idea so important, to be shared as a slide presentation?? I can just picture the audience dozing off in their seats… instead of going out motivated, engaged, and activated – as they were – to change the world.
And yet, I am willing to bet you that there are millions of dreamers out there to this day… with an idea so wonderful, so powerful, that it could change our world.
And every day, those ideas die.
Because Power Point presentations don’t change the world; people do.
That’s what makes Dr. King’s speech so powerful. HE shared his dream, and all the passion that infuses it, with US. He didn’t hide behind audio/visuals and hope that we’d get his message. He didn’t send us a report and ask us to contact him with any questions. He didn’t read a slide deck full of facts and figures to demonstrate a need. He ripped opened his heart and shared his vision, his story, of WHAT COULD BE… with us. And in doing so, he ignited and transformed a nation.
May we, in our own ways, do the same. Let us be bold, impassioned, and heartfelt in our sharing with others… and kick the shackles of our safe-feeling slide decks to the curb.
And may we paint our pictures of the kind of world we want to live in… now and for the future.
The Power of Speaking From The Heart
