The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Taken alone, they’re pretty words. They sound good and are inspirational at their face.

I think the real power of a quote like that is found through deeper investigation. Specifically, because they were spoken by the leader of the modern civil rights movement. They gain a great deal of additional weight when placed in the context of a life spent fighting to make the world better.

It’s easy to offer statements about remaining hopeful from an easy or comfortable place in life. It...