MLK, 85-Year-Old?

I was jolted the other day on Martin Luther King Junior's actual birthday by the reminder that he would have celebrated his 85th this year. While that is an advanced age, we all know vital and active 85-year-olds. Nelson Mandela died recently at the age of  95 despite having spent decades in prison, Because of his untimely death MLK will forever be the 39-year-old martyr of the Civil Rights Movement. His achievements in a relatively short life were remarkable, having attained a doctorate in theology, acting as the eloquent spokesperson for racial equality and receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace.

But what if Dr. King had lived? Would he have taken the movement in a new direction which reflected changes in society? Would he have eventually returned to the academic world, perhaps as the director of a centre for racial equality. Might he have eventually returned to the pastorate, given that he was an ordained minister with experience as a congregational leader? Could King have become the first black president of the United States, or a senator, or a diplomat? I wonder if he would eventually become a revered figure in a very different way? There is also the possibility that some of the more unfortunate choices of his personal life would come back to haunt him in an age where no secret of the famous remains hidden.

This is all speculation, of course. On this MLK Day I'm just glad God worked through him for the betterment of his society and the world. I do see him as both a flawed and faithful Christian who calls all of us to a higher standard of justice for all.

Any reflections or thoughts of your own?