"How many (fill in the blank) does it take to change a light bulb?" No doubt you've heard those jokes. Well, let me ask this one; do you know how many friends and family it takes to throw a bon voyage shindig for a local pastor? A lot!
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Our church's founding pastor was given a going away party. The honor of serving as the emcee was awarded to yours truly. Maybe they knew how much I love being a mic jockey or maybe it was that after you eliminate all the distinguished guests and all the people serving in other capacities, I was the only one left..
Whatever the reason, I feel a twinge of guilt, because the program was for someone else's honor and I enjoyed my part soooo much!.
That night, the honor went to the pastor and his Mrs, but the credit went to a plethora of volunteers. The morning after, I went through the pictures and I found myself wishing that I had captured more of this and that. We have a few shots of the servers as they waited on our tables. I wish I had the artists as they painted panels or created center pieces. The shoppers gathering all the supplies from different stores. The script writer looking for appropriate verses on the computer. The bands and choirs at their rehearsals. The cooks preparing the meals. The childcare volunteers in the other rooms. The sound and video teams. Who knows what else!.
All I did was strap on a necktie and get up front to read segments of a script (that somebody else wrote), but there was a whole lotta people that invested a huge amount of time into putting it all together..
Mr. Big Shot Emcee over here will have a slice of humble pie now. :-)
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11 comments:
When you're getting something ready like this, it's hard to remember to stop and take pictures.
And don't be too humble. So many people don't like to do what you did, so they were GRATEFUL that you did! Everyone has their own things they do well. Not everyone can be an emcee.
nice purple captured in the glass of water...so pretty with the green.
Yes Louise, not everyone would want to be emcee. But too humble? Let's put it this way: Their gifts were things that took a lot of time. My contribution required less sacrifice than theirs, but I got to enjoy the limelight.
I'm just grateful that I did not have to be funny. It's easy sometimes to trip into something humorous or witty, but difficult when it's planned. The person who wrote my script said, "Don't worry; most of these people are your friends and they wouldn't hold it against you, and for the few that don't know you... (shrugs) you'll never see them again."
NaNcY, this was taken inside a gymnasium... low light, no flash, no tripod. Usually those pics are a big pile of disappointment, especially the ones taken farther away, but I like this one, too. I don't know off-hand whether the purple was a reflection of someone's outfit, a reddish card at the end of the table, stage lights or who knows what else... what a happy accident though!
Isn't that what we humans do. Live the script God has written!
Good job!
That pic wasn't an accident! it was scripted by the master!
Craver: You did your part, do you know how many people aren't given the gift of standing before a crowd and talking. You used a gift given to you by god. Be thankful he gave you that ability.
I'd love to hear you emcee... except of course if I were the roastee. : )
If you're as funny on stage as you are on your blog it HAD to be a great evening!
No. See, that's the thing. I have seen videos of myself, and I am not just not funny... I'm un-funny! I completely suck funny out of a room and deposit it far, far away.
But that's okay. I did not need to be funny... just polite and brief. I think I did that part alright.
I've read everyone's comments and you are still being very humble.
So often, someone gets the job that requires less sacrifice and does it and moves on having done their part.
What I like about you is that YOU stopped to think about everybody else and what they did and acknowledge them. In a way they picked you to represent them.You are a great guy Craver - believe it.
fresh start pray the new pastor is the one that God want's in your church. Daily Manna from the Net for Thursday, October 2, 2008
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:6-9 NIV
Here's how your humility came thru: I don't remember a whole lot about what you said on stage, which means you did the right thing of "in honor preferring one another". You did your job of keeping a packed program moving and focused on the "honorees". I still think you're funny...
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