Rev. Peter J. Gomes addressed the student body this past Monday. Speaking extemporaneously, he spoke about the superficial nature of assembly speakers, the wimpy reactions of North Carolinians to snow when Boston has “real weather”, and explained his unusual perspective on advising undergraduates at Harvard. But more importantly, Rev. Gomes discussed his view on “independent” schools. He discussed how they allow the leisure to think great thoughts. He stressed that such school should teach students to become careful followers, rather than mediocre leaders. He ended with three parting wishes for the student body (“like a fairy god-mother”, he said). He hoped that each student would find his vocation – whatever each other us felt called to do, our great joy that addressed the world's great need. He hoped that we would discover abundant happiness. And he hoped that we would always possess a sense of humor, because a sense of humor is a way to transcend all the evils of the world.
The candid nature of Rev. Gomes speech was impressive. It distinguished him from anyone I have ever heard. He earned my respect, and from the reactions of my classmates, the respect of my fellow students when he began by acknowledging the pink elephant – the superficial relationship of assembly speaker and audience.
Reverend Gomes chats with Annie after his conversations in Kenan Auditorium.
Personally, I could not agree more with his argument that schools should teach students how to be good followers. If a college admits ten thousand great leaders, nothing will get done. In a world of followers, people will rise into leadership – they always do – and the critically thinking followers will decide who is best to follow. Just as democracy discovered that it is the people who give governments power, so Rev. Gomes argued that this country needs to learn that good followers make great leaders.
His parting wishes also resonated with me. His wish for each of us to find our calling that serves the worlds great need was a message that we have heard a thousand times in a thousand different ways. But Rev. Gomes made us listen to it, instead of just hearing it. His calling to be a preacher has served the world’s great need for a loud voice to tell it as it is. This was clear by the end of his speech, which demonstrated his speaking ability. Through his talents, he was able to prove his point that fulfilling your vocation is more than just doing your job.
I believe his most important lesson came with his final wish – for each of us to have a sense of humor. I am always proud of the effort that Durham Academy makes to promote all facets of each student who attends. Not every attempt is as successful as we would like, but I am always proud to see that my school keeps trying – in sincerity – to mold critical thinkers and people who will act upon their morals. But I think that this school and many within it – including myself – have forgotten to have a sense of humor. Unless we can laugh at our own irony, foolishness, and mistakes, we can not move forward or learn. Or enjoy what success we do achieve. His final hope for us was his most important lesson to DA.
Rev. Gomes will be preaching at Duke Chapel on March 16th, 2008. To watch him in recent interview (about 20 minutes) with Charlie Rose, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment