Today we celebrate the birthday of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Somehow, it doesn't seem enough to celebrate this day by sleeping in or with special pricing at the local big-box store.

Instead, let's reflect on Dr. King's life and work and commit to doing our part to make his dream a reality:

• Spend some time today looking up the names and phone numbers of your representatives — national, state, and local. Put their email addresses into your contact list and their phone numbers into your cell. Spend some time researching where they stand on the justice issues that mean the most to you and commit to contacting them regularly (say, once a month) to share your views.
• Get involved with some group that is working to make your community a better and more just place.
• Research volunteer opportunities in your community and find one (regular or occasional) to which you can dedicate some time.
• Make a financial contribution to an organization that looks out for those often disregarded because of their race, gender, social or economic status, ability, etc.
• Pray for peace and justice.
• Be a force for kindness and compassion — especially when it isn't convenient.
• Search your mind and heart to identify your own failings and ask for the strength to change.
• Set up a plan to learn more about some group that is different from you. Read, take a class, listen to their stories — whatever is possible.

What else can you do to help the dream come to pass?