As we celebrate today the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we can still hear his voice.  He was certainly one of the greatest speakers of the last century.  His "I Have a Dream" speech is without question one of the most recognizable pieces of American oratory.  Dr. King dared to dream about a better, more just life for his children--a life where one day they would all "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."  Amen, dear brother! 

Has America become more just?  I think we would all have to agree it has.  Has Dr. King's dream become reality?  I think so.  Here is why I believe this.  Although I do not believe our great country is color blind, we have come a long way, which brings me to the issue of character.  Since Dr. King spoke those prophetic words over a divided nation, we have all been more conscientious about a man's character.  He understood that this is what makes a man stand out in his community.  Sadly, we have become a nation of characters without content.  A celebrity culture in which the goal is fame, not character development, in our own lives or that of our children. 

Dr. King's dream has come full circle.  We do judge people by the content of their character, and we don't like what we see.  There is much spiritual work to be done.  But what we need most of all are leaders like that great one who stood in Washington, D.C. that August day way back in 1963 and dared to dream.  Leaders who have some personal content.  Those not afraid to take a bold stand and know the difference between right and wrong.  Fewer characters, more content.  Dr. King, we're still dreaming.