BRIEF OUTLINE of Commencement Address

April 30, 2006
Dr. Bob Edgar
General Secretary
National Council of Churches USA

EASTERN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY  

“Spirit of a living God, fall a fresh on me.

Spirit of a living God, fall a fresh on me.

Melt me – Mold me – Fill me – Use me

Spirit of a living God, fall a fresh on me.” 

Introduction:  

I begin with a joke!   

There is the story of the mother mouse, walking across an open field.  She has behind her all her baby mice.  Everything is going fine until a large cat approaches.  The mother mouse gets up on her back legs to protect her little ones.  She looks the cat right in the eye and says: “BOW WOW, WOLF WOLF!”  The cat runs off.  She then turns to her little ones and says: “NOW YOU KNOW THE VALUE OF A SECOND LANGUAGE.” 

Commencement Address Outline: 

Listen to the words of the great United States African American leader, Howard Thurman. In his lifetime he helped to bring the message of non-violence to the social and political movements that swept the United States in the second half of the twentieth century. His words speak to our current global crisis:  

“The concern, which I lay bare before God today, is

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

            There is food for all – many are hungry.

            There are clothes enough for all – many are in rags.

            There is room enough for all – many are crowded.

            There are none who want war – preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

            I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

            I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

            I have left to others a real interest in making

A public opinion worthy of democracy.

            I have been concerned about my own little job,

My own little security,

                                    My own shelter,

My own bread.

            I have not really cared about jobs for others,

                        Security for others,

                                    Shelter for others,

Bread for others.

            I have not worked for peace; I want peace,

                        But I have voted and worked for war.

            I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard

                        On the side of any cause, however right,

                                    If it meant running risks

Or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire.” 

-- Howard Thurman, 1900-1981, Meditations of the Heart   

Point #1:       We are the LEADERS we have been waiting for… 

You look ready!  It is time now to go out and explore how well what you have been taught is relevant for the real world out THERE, beyond these walls, beyond the comfort of this institution, beyond the safety of college, beyond the reach of professors and parents and significant others.

Listen to some advice from my a few of my heroes, the people who have impacted on my life:  

Ø      Dr. Martin Luther King once said:

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” 

Ø      Margaret Mead once said:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that has.” 

Ø      Bobby Kennedy once said:

“Let no one be discouraged by the belief that there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills -- against misery and ignorance, injustice and violence…  Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation…

It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.  Each time a man (or a woman) stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he (or she) sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

(Robert F. Kennedy, address on the Day of Affirmation, University of Capetown, South Africa, June 6, 1966) 

Ø      Pope John Paul II once said:

“I dream of a world where none will be so poor that they have nothing to give and none will be so rich that they have nothing to receive.” 

Ø      Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said:

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” 

Ø      President John F. Kennedy once said:

“…If by a liberal they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people – their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties…  If that is what they mean by a ‘liberal’ then I am proud to e a liberal.” 

All of these famous people were no smarter than any of you.  Each had prepared to go through life in one direction and ALL ended up going beyond their own expectations.  I hope you are prepared for the UNINTENDED lives that await you. 

God always calls average, ordinary people to do the extraordinary, to make the big difference.  You are the prophets, the disciples and the leaders we have been waiting for. 

Point #2:       You are graduating into a world of DARKNESS, so please be LIGHT BEARERS… 

Ø      A New York City cab driver reflecting on what really matters said:

“One cannot survive 5 minutes under water without air. 

But even more important, one cannot survive one second without HOPE!” 

In a dark time, the eye begins to see. 

We are the hope givers of this fragile planet. 

Point #3:       Now that you have finished your “schooling,” do not stop your learning! 

Let’s take a moment to look at the state of the world you are graduating into:  

Ø      To speak of the civilization of coexistence we must first understand that we live in a world that is very different that the world we were born into.  If I had time, I would outline many examples of how much the world has changed over just the past few decades, but since time is limited, let me just share this illustration. 

The population of the planet helps us to understand the rapid change that is putting enormous pressure on our current civilization.  Scientist remind us that the world is approximately 5 billion years old, give or take one billion.  After millions of years of human existence, we reached the first billionth population on or about January 1830.  One hundred years later, in January 1930, we reached two billion brothers and sisters on planet earth.  In January 1960, we reached three billion.  By January 1975, when I was elected at age 31 to the United States Congress, our world’s population had reached four billion.  In January 1987, it had reached five billion.  The United Nations calculated that on or about October 15, 1999, the population of the world reached six billion.  As of today, April 30, 2006, we have 6.5 billion persons wanting access to clean air and clean water. 

These statistics remind us that MORE THAN ONE HALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO EVER LIVED ON PLANET EARTH ARE ALIVE TODAY. 

They also help us to understand, as Alvin Toffler pointed out in his book “Future Shock,” that 95% OF EVERYTHING CREATED BY HUMAN HANDS HAS BEEN CREATED IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.  

To work for peace and justice in a world of change, we must first understand that change and how it effects our existence. 

Point #4:       The WORLD needs you urgently.  It needs you NOW! 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., understood the art of living together in peace better than most religious leaders of our time.  Dr. King was right to remind us of the “urgency of now.”  In his book, “Where Do We Go From Here, Chaos or Community,” (1967) Dr. King said this: 

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today.  We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.  In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.  Procrastination is still the thief of time.  Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity.  The ‘tide in the affairs of humanity’ does not remain at the flood; it ebbs.  We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on.  Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: 'Too late.'  There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect.  ‘The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on...’  We still have a choice today: nonviolent coexistence or violent co-annihilation. This may be humankinds last chance to choose between chaos and community.” 

Here is what I expect of each of you – 

I expect each of you will go home and remind you friends and family that GOD’S KINGDOM is much more important than any man-made EMPIRE: 

Ø      That EMPIRES use religion to exploit.  GOD uses faith and hope to empower. 

Ø      EMPIRES seek to redefine war and foster a new militarism.  GOD blesses the peacemakers and calls them God’s children. 

Ø      EMPIRES talk of pre-emptive strikes and usable nuclear weapons.  GOD builds on the axis of good and the axis of justice, the axis of love and the axis of hope. 

Ø      EMPIRES invade other countries and markets and cultures to destroy.  GOD invades the heart, the mind and the soul to seek peace. 

Ø      EMPIRES fight wars on terrorism by labeling all who are different as terrorists.  GOD shocks and awes us with words of forgiveness and reconciliation.  GOD always avoids simplistic labeling. 

Ø      EMPIRES are built on greed and arrogance.  GOD’S KINGDOM has always been built by average, ordinary people like us, called by GOD to be the leaders, the prophets, the disciples of this generation.  Again, we are the leaders, prophets and disciples we have been waiting for. 

Point #5:       Here are a few guideposts for what I call DEEP-WATER CITIZENSHIP. 

There is a parable in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 5:11ff, in which Jesus comes upon a group of fishermen who have been casting their nets in a lake but catching nothing.  One of the Bible’s fascinating mysteries is that we do not know what Jesus says to the gathered crowd when he steps into the boats.  We only know what he advises the fishermen to do.  “Put out into the deep,” Jesus tells them, “and let down your nets for a catch.”  Soon, their nets are filled to bursting.  The lesson is clear: We need the courage to venture into the deep waters, where the currents are rougher and success is less certain. 

As you graduate today, you are being sent out into the deep water, the fast currents, and the rough waters.  Are you really ready?  

Here are a few guideposts for you to test out what I call DEEP-WATER CITIZENSHIP.  Just a few new “Be-Attitudes” to help you get adjusted to your future adventure of faithful citizenship. 

Ø      Blessed are the Faithful Risk-Takers

Ø      Blessed is the Courageous Remnant

Ø      Blessed are Those Who Love the Stranger 

Ø      Blessed Are Those Who Read the Whole Bible

Ø      Blessed Are the Faithful Voters

Ø      Blessed Are Those Who Challenge Us to Work for Justice 

Ø      Blessed Are Those with a Sense of Humor -- and a Sense of Hope

Again, remember the advice of the New York City cab driver reflecting on what really matters said:
“One cannot survive 5 minutes under water without air. 

But one cannot survive one second without HOPE!” 

Are you foolish enough to believe, and faithful enough to hope? 

I pray for the strength and faith of each persons graduating today and hope that each of you will help all of us reclaim the soul of our nation.  You will quickly learn that there is no prayer more powerful than our own works, and so I leave you with exactly such a blessing -- a Franciscan benediction in whose words there is enough power for authentic and passionate faith to prevail.  For the answer to this prayer, like all others, must come not from God, but from ourselves.  Please stand and place your hand on the shoulder of the person beside you and listen to these words of challenge:

May God bless you with DISCOMFORT …

At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships

So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with ANGER …

At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,

So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with TEARS …

To shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war.

So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them

And to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough FOOLISHNESS …

To believe that you can make a difference in this world,

So that you can DO what others claim cannot be done.  Amen.