Tie Tuesday (Dr. Joseph Lowery)

I've been thinking about Dr. Joseph Lowery lately...  He's an icon who is best known for his leadership in the civil rights movement.  His tireless work has stretched over 60 years.  In fact, after Rosa Parks' arrest in 1955, Dr. Lowery was instrumental in leading the Montgomery bus boycott.  And at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King, he led the Selma to Montgomery march of 1965.  He later founded the Christian Leadership Conference with Dr.King, and led the organization from 1997 to 1987.  In 2009, Dr. Lowery was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.

He celebrated his 92nd birthday this past Sunday in Atlanta at Morehouse College. Celebrities, politicians and community leaders came out to honor his life and contributions. One person was missing though.  His wife of nearly 60 years, Evelyn.  She passed away a week ago. 

My heart goes out to him for his loss...60 years is a long time to love someone.  But I know he's a man of faith.  And I know he'll keep pushing forward.  One of the many reasons I love and admire him...

Tie Tuesday (Congressman John Lewis)

I met Congressman John Lewis a few years ago and got a chance to sit with him in his office in Washington, DC.  I sat and listened for hours as he shared his personal stories about the civil rights movement.  I was in awe.  Speechless.  

The fact that he held no bitterness, no anger and no malicious feelings about his experience impacted me.  It takes a special person to live in a place of peace after that journey.  I was humbled by his presence and vowed to do my best to emulate that in my own life.  

Congressman Lewis joined tens of thousands of people on the National Mall this past Saturday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 March on Washington.  He was a featured speaker at the march and urged the crowd to continue to fight for equality. He also expressed his outrage about the recent high court decision on voting rights by stating, "I gave a little blood on the bridge in Selma, Alabama, for that right to vote."

Take a look at Congressman Lewis' full remarks here: