January 19

I have written about this before. And I keep coming back to it. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech. Less than 24 hours before he died, he said:

“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.”

There are two reasons I come back to this each year. One is the unbelievable timing of these events—a speech in which he says that though he would like to live a long life he is not concerned about that, and, his death 21 hours later. The other is the amazing sense of peace and purpose that pervades this moment in his tumultuous life.

His was not the language of resignation. It was the language of peace achieved.

I’m happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything; I’m not fearing any man…

Great leadership is often misunderstood as ambition, drive, or constant forward motion. But at its core, leadership is knowing why you are here—and staying faithful to that purpose even when the outcome is uncertain, delayed, or denied. MLK understood something many leaders struggle to accept: your vision and your purpose matter most.

            I’ve seen the Promised Land...

By the time of that speech, King had been jailed, threatened, exhausted, and criticized not only by his enemies but by people who once stood beside him. He was physically worn down. Spiritually tested. And yet, what comes through in that final address is not bitterness. It’s resolve. He was no longer trying to convince anyone of his worth or justify the cost. He knew his purpose. That’s all he needed.

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.  

Leaders who lack clarity about purpose tend to grasp at control, or recognition, or certainty. They confuse motion with meaning. But leaders who know their purpose can loosen their grip. They can make decisions differently. They can speak more honestly. They are less reactive to setbacks because their identity is not tied to a single win or moment.

Purpose does not eliminate fear or fatigue. King was human. He initially was too tired to give that speech and sent Ralph Abernathy instead. But purpose gives strength. Purpose gives experiences meaning. It allows a leader to endure without becoming hardened, and to let go without giving up.

And MLK was a believer. True leaders always are. He had enough faith for himself and everyone who joined his cause.

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.

King did not know what the next day would bring. He said as much. What he did know was who he was, what he had been called to do, and that he had been faithful to it. That knowledge gave him peace that no circumstance could take away.

The leadership question becomes clear: Am I living and leading in alignment with my purpose, or am I simply staying busy? The answer to that question shapes not just our leadership, but our capacity for peace.

Leadership is not measured simply by what we accomplish or how long we last. It is measured by whether we can say that we didn’t trade our purpose for approval or our values for speed—that we did the work we were meant to do, in the way we were meant to do it.

King’s final gift was not a prediction. It was a posture. A leader who knew his vision and purpose, even when he did not know what was coming next. Transformative, determined leadership at its best.