Back in 1999, Australian film maker Baz Luhrmann produced a musical track called “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sun Screen.” The song presents a graduation speech with music playing behind it. It is a string of advice given to that year’s graduating class.
The song begins: “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Class of ’99, wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.”
Then the song presents tidbits of wisdom for graduates.
Frank Bures says, “It’s possible that future anthropologists will look back on our civilization and conclude that all our wisdom was collected in our commencement speeches.” I have wondered what words of wisdom I would share if I had to make a commencement speech.
In the eighth chapter of Proverbs, the writer wonders where wisdom is found. The writer says, “Don’t you hear it? Wisdom is out in the city streets.”
I decided to go into our streets and look for wisdom. I went to Bojangles where people were sitting around tables, drinking legendary iced tea and sharing wisdom. I listened to the radio as people shared sound bites of wisdom over the air. I went to Lowe’s where I was encouraged to “Never stop improving.” I went to Walmart where I was told to “Save money, live better.”
I returned home still wondering about wisdom. Then I came across notes from a recent speech by Shaul Praver, a rabbi from Newtown, Conn., whose ministry took a dramatic turn Dec. 14, 2012, with the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
What wisdom did this man of faith have to say after experiencing the unthinkable? “We have a surplus of information but a deficit of meaning,” he said. “Religion is our meaning maker. Through our shared knowledge of a loving Creator, we can make a difference. We all have the Spirit of God within us. The fruits of the Spirit — love, compassion, peace, forbearance and patience — are the same in all the great religions. We must recognize that Spirit in each other, get together and make a difference.”
I cannot think of any better wisdom to share with you, Class of 2013. May the Spirit of God within lead you to live compassionately with those around you and make a difference in the world.
The Rev. Wanda S. Neely is pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Kinston. Reach her at wneely@fpckinston.com.