A Ten-Second Pause

October 22, 2013

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Like many of you, I grew up in the charming television neighborhood of Fred McFeely Rogers, affectionately known simply as “Mr. Rogers.”  He died in 2003, leaving behind a forty-five year legacy of teaching children how to live with decency and honesty, and challenging all of us to create a safe, nurturing world for people of all ages. 

Mr. Rogers was honored in 1997 by the Academy of Arts and Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Award.  The presenter was actor Tim Robbins, who introduced him in this way:

Ladies and gentlemen, the best neighbor we’ve ever had:  Fred Rogers.  (applause)  For giving generation upon generation of children confidence in themselves, for being their friend, for telling them again and again and again that they are special and that they have worth, it is my honor on behalf of everyone here and on behalf of the millions of children whose mornings have brightened with your kindness, to present you with this Lifetime Achievement Award.

The auditorium full of Hollywood celebrities stood to their feet, as the gentle, sweet Fred Rogers - the Presbyterian minister who became America’s favorite neighbor - approached the microphone to give his acceptance speech.  It lasted only about ninety seconds, much shorter than many of today’s self-adulating speeches.  But what makes it particularly unusual is what he invited the audience to do, right in the middle of the speech.   Read the text below, imagining the slow, tender tone of his voice, speaking as if we were all in that famous television living room again: 

Thank you. Thank you. Oh it’s a beautiful night in this neighborhood. So many people have helped me to come here to this night. Some of you are here, some are far away and some are even in Heaven. All of us have special ones who have loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are, those who have cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life. 10 seconds of silence. I’ll watch the time.

[Ten Second Pause]

Whomever you’ve been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they’ve made. You know they’re the kind of people television does well to offer our world. Special thanks to my family and friends, and to my co-workers in Public Broadcasting, Family Communications, and this Academy for encouraging me, allowing me, all these years to be your neighbor. May God be with you. Thank you very much. 

As you could see from the YouTube video of the speech, there was hardly a dry eye in the whole room when he was finished.  [1]

FOR OUR CHILDREN

Now, I share this speech with you not simply as a tribute to Mr. Rogers.  (whom, frankly, I still miss even to this day, given what passes for television today.)  Rather, I offer this speech to you for its challenge, both to remember our past and to pledge toward our future.  

All of us come from different walks of life – hometowns, family origins, formative experiences – but we all have one thing in common:  we were all children.  Each of those significant influences that, for better or worse, make us what we are today, not only call us to remembrance, but stir us to action for the next generation.  We are responsible, right now, for the very children that will look back on us someday with the same evaluative gaze with which we consider our ancestors. 

Mr. Rogers’ advice is clear:  Our lives are to be a part of every child’s future 10-second pause.

This Sunday, we will once again have the opportunity to hear our beautiful children lead us in our annual Children’s Sabbath, a national initiative sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund and supported by our United Methodist Women.  This year’s theme is “Turning Swords into Plowshares:  A Bright Hope for Tomorrow.”  They will raise awareness of issues affecting the lives of children in this country and beyond, focusing specifically on ways that we can build a more peaceful world.

The children will also lead the way in starting our November donation drive for our local food pantries.  Starting this Sunday, they will bring in non-perishable food items, and we will continue collecting them from you from now until Thanksgiving.  We will also ask you to make a financial donation to the youth program’s service project to the Midwest Christian Children’s Home.  The youth will use those funds to purchase Christmas gifts for the many boys who will not otherwise get a gift this year, and deliver it to them when they spend an evening with them in December.

Though he is no longer with us, the loving legacy of Mr. Rogers remains, calling us to a future in which we care for our children and for everyone around us.  It is stated no more clearly than Jesus himself, who commanded us, quite simply, to “Love the Lord your God, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega

St. Paul's United Methodist Church

531 W. Main St.

Cherokee, IA  51012

Ph:  712-225-3955

Email:  mdevega@sp-umc.org

[1]  View footage of Mr. Rogers’ acceptance speech on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQqKBqj5xhY

To subscribe to the Mid-Week Message via email, send a message to mdevega@sp-umc.org.   

Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/cherokeespumc.