I gave the benediction at my high school graduation in 1989. This seemed like a really odd thing to do at the time. I didn’t attend church much, and I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. My early skill in public speaking and ability to impact my fellow classmates lead someone to suggest that “Jason perform the prayer for graduation.”
As I anxiously walked up to the microphone on the most exciting day of my life (to that point), I clasped my hands together, leaned in and said “Let us pray.” (I heard Father Gregory at the Catholic Church say that when he prayed so I figured it was a good way to start). It got really quiet in the gym and I said “I want to thank God for bringing us all this far, and I pray that he takes us the rest of the way… Amen!” My classmates erupted with hoots and hollers, like I had just kicked a winning field goal. Principal Sager laughed and clapped, and my friend’s mother, “Ellen” was mortified. Ellen was very religious, a devout Catholic, and by the look of horror on her face (and the gasp) I could tell that I offended her.
I wasn’t attempting to be irreverent. I WAS thankful that we didn’t have any major catastrophes in my graduating class of 49 students, and I did want God (even as I understood him then) to be with us as we moved on to the rest of our lives.
That prayer has gone down in history as the shortest benediction ever given at Mio AuSable High School. (It could be a national record, but it has never been confirmed).
As my relationship with God has grown, my prayers have matured. For awhile I worked on being very reverent, and pray with the ‘proper’ pitch and timbre. Recently, though I have learned to be more conversational… Sometimes I’m angry when I pray, asking for clarity on a particular frustration or inequality… Sometimes I’m happy and simply thanking God for a parking spot, a calm night, or a hug from my son or daughter. I like to think that God likes these conversational prayers… They have an aire of authenticity that the well calculated prayers sometimes lack.
When I think of Him, watching over that graduation ceremony, I like to think that He was celebrating like my classmates on that summer day in 1989… If my life today is any indication, God was listening to that prayer. (Amen!)
July 9th, 2008 at 8:09 am
i love it when the student surpasses the teacher!!!
July 9th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Jason,
This is such a great story. You were, and are, trackin’!
Margie
July 9th, 2008 at 10:08 am
It think it’s a great prayer! Besides, it’s not the length of the prayer, it’s the sincerity of the heart. I’m sure God was listening, and smiling because He knew He was taking you “the rest of the way”.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Good blog, dude!!! Prayers should be about quality versus the quanity of it. I think sometimes we can easily forget that when we can’t pray for over a minute.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Short and sweet. I like it. When a prayer is of a high caliber… just remember: the higher the caliber the bigger the bore.
A number of years ago a special speaker we had told a story about a REALLY long winded preacher. A fellow in the back finally got up and started to leave. The event did not go without noticed by the preacher who said rather loudly, “you in the back, walking out. Where do you think you are going?” The reply heard back rather loudly, “I going to get a hair cut.” At which the preacher said, “why didn’t you get one before you came to the service?” The reply was, “I did not need a hair cut before I came here today.”
Some people could make a great alternative energy source.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
It was great to re-live that day, and I’m glad that y’all enjoyed the story!
Jason