Honoring King
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 18, 2016 1:46 PM
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Patsy Faison addresses the 400 people in attendance for the City of Goldsboro and Wayne County Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at the Goldsboro-Raleigh District Assembly this morning. The focus of Faison's message was "Strength in Unity."
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Jaliyah Davis, ninth grade, sings "A City Called Heaven" with members of the Dillard Middle and Goldsboro High School choral groups.
There is strength in unity, and in unity, hope for the future and the way for people to make a difference in lives and communities, Patsy Faison told the more than 400 who gathered this morning for the 28th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration.
"We have come today to honor and remember a chosen man of true greatness, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King," said Mrs. Faison, a retired Wayne County educator. "Dr. King knew the value and worth of humanity. He always thought of others. He gave himself away trying to make it better, not bitter. He was like a Moses in our wilderness of life.
"He was a man of great courage and bravery. Dr. King was chosen by God to think of others, to speak of others, and to just go and do for others."
He was inspired to improve the conditions of life for all people, she said.
King was a "mover and a shaker," who would step forth and take charge of situations and conditions in order to make a difference, Mrs. Faison said.
"He had a personality that allowed him to work against forces of unkind behaviors," Mrs. Faison said. "While he experienced many unkind situations, he never allowed those moments to keep him from practicing non-violence. He was a man of peace. He was a man of love, humility, respect, fairness, kindness and forgiveness -- all of which embrace the subject, there is strength in numbers."
Held at the Goldsboro-Raleigh District Assembly on Hooks River Road, the annual event is sponsored by Wayne County and the city of Goldsboro.
The commemoration included a breakfast, comments by Mayor Chuck Allen and Wayne County Commissioner John Bell and music by the Dillard Middle and Goldsboro High School Chorale.
Lt. Col. Pamela Adkins-Tyson was the mistress of ceremonies.
Mrs. Faison said she believed that unity would be on King's mind and his heart.
"I say it because of what he stood for," she said. "He was for people living and working together in harmony. He had deep love for people. His love reminded me of that unconditional love, that New Commandment love that Jesus said we should love one another."
It was King's emphasis on unity that led her to her topic and to Psalms 133.1: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity," she said.
And she noted that her comments tied into a plea to the audience from Mayor Chuck Allen earlier in the program for community support to tackle the issues of crime, education and litter in the city.
She said if she asked the audience members what unity meant to them that she hoped they would think one of King's quotes --"We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters, or perish as fools."
"There is strength in unity," she said. "What does it mean when I say there is strength in unity? It means working together as a team. It means cooperating with a concerted effort. It means being committed and having harmonious relationship.
"Dr. King was a great man who believed in all of these meanings of unity. He was about people being of one accord. This subject, there is strength in unity, is stressing that we should embrace each other with the spirit of being united with one vision, one mission and one purpose. We have heard these words, 'united we stand, divided we fall.'"
By recognizing no "big I's" and no "little yous" people can build strong relationships, Mrs. Faison said.
However, living in harmony does not mean there will not be disagreements since there are many opinions, just as there are many notes in a musical chord, she said.
"But we must agree on our purpose in life to work together for God," Mrs. Faison said. "Our outward expression of unity will reflect our inward unity of purpose. These words bring me to a question -- what would Dr. King say about our unity today?"
Would he say that he sees some signs or indications of unity in the way people are treating one another? she said. Would he say he sees some improvements in the human condition? she said.
"Or would he say I see heads and hands and hearts joined together in love and respect -- people who are just not talking the talk, but talking the talk and walking the walk?" Mrs. Faison said. "I believe he would see signs of unity in relationships.
"I believe he would see some indications of improved human conditions. I believe he would see hands reaching out with hearts right trying to make this world a better place where all can live together in harmony. I believe he would say to us, 'I see it. I see your works trying to improve the lives of others.'"