The 365 Commitment

Be an Extremist

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be…” In context he was referring to Jesus Christ as an extremist, and using that as an example of what we should chose for ourselves. The point is that we are going to be extreme about something, it is probably best to be deliberate about it.

We spend a lot of energy talking about finding balance, creating seperation, learning to relax. I do not know about you, but those ideas have proven to be ellusive. I tend to be the most confortable and probably the most content when I am anxiously engaged, or in other words, extreme. Who said that extreme was bad?

Extreme is good when it is the right pursuit. When it is the wrong pursuit it is destructive, and distracting. I guess I would be pretty good at being a lazy extrremist slob if I really put my heart into it! Why do we criticize the extreme? The extreme seems like what we like and idolize the most? I mean, seriously, our society actually liked Miley Cirus. Make fun of her, maybe, but she along with Madonna, Cindi Lauper, and even Brittany Spears played that extreme card pretty damn well.

So if we could learn to play that extreme card, but with productive awesome things, what would that do for us? I know what you are thinking, how could I be a good family member and be an extremist? Well, that is exactly MLKs point. Couldn’t you relish in being a extreme father or mother? What about an extreme lover or spouse? If you are doubting your ability to be an extremist, then you are fooling yourself. You will be an extremist just what is it going to be?

We all have failings, distractions, responsibilities and all the other life ingredients. We all experience the push and pull of daily life. MLK had his fair share of personal dramas to weave into his life. However, how many awesome people do you know? Think long and hard about this. What you will inevitably discover is that the reason you like them is because they are an extremist in something you admire.

Guy Reams

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