xmlns:og='http://ogp.me/ns#' The Mid-Week Message: A Preacher at a Loss for Words

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

A Preacher at a Loss for Words

April 1, 2014

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Even a few days later, I’m still shaking my head in disbelief.

As most of you know, at last Saturday night’s Cherokee Recognition Dinner sponsored by the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation, I was named the 2013 Citizen of the Year.  Mayor Mark Murphy’s final announcement of the evening came as a complete and utter surprise, as I thought I was invited to the banquet merely to do the opening invocation and represent the ministerial association.  “This is a historic moment,” I recall saying into the microphone, voice trembling with quickened pulse.  “A preacher is at a loss for words.”

I am the twenty-fourth recipient of the honor, since its inception in 1990, and the seventh person from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.  (Earl Pickens, 1990; Mark Minger, 2004; Sherry Held, 2005; John Cook, 2006; Phyllis Parrott, 2010, and Jeff Blum, 2011.)   The entire list is a collection of extraordinary individuals whose enduring contributions have made Cherokee such a wonderful community.  The fact that I am now counted among them is truly humbling.

After regaining my verbal composure, I continued my acceptance speech with these words (as best I can recall):  “I accept this award … on the condition that all of us share in its ideal, remembering that the responsibility of forming a decent society does not rest in any one sector, or any one citizen, but in all of us sharing the values of love, compassion, and service to the common good….” 

It was in that moment that my mind flashed back to one of my favorite quotes, by Ben Zander, the famous conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, and author of the motivational book “The Art of Possibility.”  He said, “The conductor is the only person in the orchestra who doesn’t make a sound.  He depends, for his power, on his ability to make other people powerful.”  [1]  It has taken me years to learn this lesson (and many years to unlearn several others), but the highest praise I can merit is not for any single individual accomplishment, but for the ways that I can empower the people I serve to achieve extraordinary things together. 

That’s why, in a letter I sent to the Cherokee Chronicle Times yesterday, I wrote the following:  


March 31, 2014

Dear Mayor Mark Murphy, City Administrator Don Eikmeier, City Hall Staff, and Fellow Citizens of Cherokee,

With sentiment that is too hard to capture with words, I thank you, the selection committee, and all of Cherokee for the distinction of being named the 2013 Citizen of the Year.  It is a recognition that is far too great for any one person to receive, let alone myself.  But it is one that I will cherish forever, as an enduring reminder of what all of us do to make this town such a great place to live.  This award represents our shared commitment to decency, service, and compassion, and I am inexplicably honored to know that my fellow residents see those qualities in me.

To the degree that my efforts in last year’s flood relief played any role in my receipt of this award, I share it with all of those who helped us endure those long, difficult weeks.  More than eighty-five volunteers throughout this area contributed over 700 hundred hours to help dozens of residents, and they embodied the corporate spirit of care and sacrifice that is the fabric of a decent community.  I also thank Rev. Ethan Sayler, whose skillful efforts complemented my own, and whose mutual friendship made those long weeks bearable.

I realize that the award is given for efforts beyond one’s trade or profession, but none of what I have done would be possible without the faithfulness, joy, and shared commitment of the amazing congregation of St. Paul’s United MethodistChurch.  They bring out the best in me, as I hope I do for them, and they make me a better preacher, pastor, familyman, and citizen of this town.

Finally, I thank my daughters Grace and Madelyn, who have the most critical and most difficult task of all:  to consistently recalibrate me toward what is most important in life.  Theirs is a constant reminder that all of what we do is for those who will come after us, and I cherish the task of being their father.  And rest assured, they are quite skilled at making sure that this award does not go to my head.

Once again, thank youfor this tremendous honor.

Sincerely,

Magrey deVega


Brother and sisters of St. Paul’s, my receipt of the Citizen of the Year award is much, much more than the recognition of one person’s accomplishments.  I believe that it is further proof of what can happen when a congregation like ours takes its mission seriously, and works to put God’s love into action.  Nothing I did could have happened without all of you.  I am merely the conductor, you are the musicians.  I didn’t make a sound, but now your songs are ringing throughout the land.


THE MOST SURPRISING MOMENT

But here’s the astonishing thing.  Are you ready for this?  The most surprising thing I experienced the past few days was not winning the award on Saturday night.  Nor was winning that award even the source of my greatest pride over the weekend.


That came the next day, when I told the girls that their father had won the award.  They asked if I had to make a speech, and I said yes.  Then, Madelyn asked if I mentioned them in the speech, and I told them that I did.  I told them that I mentioned the importance of my family, and that I would be thanking them in the letter I am sending the Chronicle

“Yes!” Madelyn exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air.

“You like that, huh?” I said, thinking that she was delighted to have her name said in public.  I mean, what ten-year old wouldn’t want to have the spotlight on them, and be able to brag to her friends that she was part of such a big moment.  Right? 

And that’s when she surprised me. 

“There’s only one thing on my bucket list,” she told me.  (Wait a minute, I thought.  She’s only ten years old and she has a bucket list?) 

“Really?  What is it?”

“I have always wanted to have someone else receive a really big award, and know that I was one of the persons that helped them make it happen.  Now I can cross that one and only thing off my bucket list.”

For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, this preacher was at a loss for words.

Madelyn gets it.  And so does Grace.  The most important thing in life is not the accomplishments one garners, but what others around them are able to achieve because of their influence.  Maddy and Grace are already learning a lesson that it’s taken their father years to finally understand:  helping others succeed is the greatest success you can achieve.

Yes, winning Citizen of the Year was an amazing individual honor to receive.  But serving as your pastor, and father two these two girls … well, this conductor couldn’t feel more proud.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey 

[1]  http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA  51012
Ph:  712-225-3955



KITCHEN AND DINING HALL OPENING DATE!
We are thrilled to announce that our brand new kitchen and dining hall, damaged in the fire more than two years ago, will be fully operational starting Easter morning, April 20!  On that day, the facility will be available between the 7:00 and 10:10 services, for us to share in coffee and brunch items.  We will then be able to have after-church fellowship time there every Sunday following.  To help us prepare for the opening of the facility, consider joining us for a campus-wide clean-up day on Saturday, April 19.  And on, Sunday, June 1, when we move to our summer worship schedule at 9:30, we will host a community-wide grand opening event with a full meal and formal dedication of the kitchen, dining hall, and Feller Lounge after the worship service. 


AMAZING YOUTH GROUP NUMBERS
Last Wednesday, I received astonishing totals from our three Wednesday night youth groups.  We now have fifty middle high and high school students attending our mid-week programs, and I have also learned that the 7th-8th grade group is having so many visitors that they have just about outgrown meeting in the Chapel.  If you would like to help support this amazing growth, to help fund meals and materials for their weekly meetings, consider making a financial contribution to the youth fund, or even simply bring a 2-liter bottle of soda to the church office.  We give thanks to God for these wonderful kids, and the faithful adult volunteers who serve them.


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