« Pop Goes the Church 3 | Home | Reading the New Through the Lens of Faith- 3 »
Videos that Make us Laugh and Think- 3
By Dan | May 21, 2008
Does anyone remember when this song/speech came out? It’s hard (at least for me) to believe it was almost 10 years ago now, addressed to the class of 1999. I know these words spoke powerfully to many people. At least that must have been the case because it was played on the radio over and over. . . and over.
Regardless, there are many interesting things in these words. Notice how the author speaks both to the simple “wear sunscreen”, “floss”, “stretch”, and to the deep, “accept inalienable truths,” “respect your elders”. Notice also how the artist points to certain tensions in our lives- enjoy your youth, but you won’t appreciate it until you’re older, don’t worry, but you probably will, etc.
I don’t agree with every statement in this video, but I remember how these words made me think all those years ago, and I sought this video out after I saw some clips from current graduation speeches. Advice should reflect wisdom and it should be stated in a way that is simple enough to remember, yet profound enough to make worthy of holding close to one’s heart.
So a couple of questions- what advice from this piece do you like? What bothers you? How should a Christian react to these words? What would intrigue me the most is this- if you were speaking to a crowd of graduates from a Christian perspective, what words of advice would you have for them? Remember, try to keep it within this genre, simple and profound.
Topics: Videos that make us think |
May 21st, 2008 at 3:43 am
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHow should a Christian react to these words? What would intrigue me the most is this- if you were speaking to a crowd of graduates from a Christian perspective, what words of advice would you have for them? … [...]
May 21st, 2008 at 8:10 am
One of the easiest things to do that would have the most profound impact on society would be his advice, “Don’t read beauty magazines…they’ll only make you feel ugly”.
Guys: don’t think this is just a ‘girl’ problem. Once day you’re going to marry one of those girls and spend the rest of your life trying to convince her that she really is beautiful!
May 21st, 2008 at 8:53 am
I’m not sure what my whole speech would look like, but I think I might include words like these:
You’ve been striving all these years to grow up, to mature, to grasp the wisdom of adults.
I praise you for that, but I add this piece of advice.
Do not forget what it was like to be a child. Especially in this- do not forget to love like a child loves. Remember, Jesus’ words, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
So as you mature and learn to love with the discernment and commitment that only years can teach, at the same time do not forget to love with the passion and humility of a child.
If you can love your God and your neighbor in this way- if you can walk this path, you will enjoy the foretaste of the peace and happiness that can come in this age.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:14 am
Sweet.. I love that song. I think they played it at my high school graduation.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:15 am
wait…that couldn’t have happened. There goes the memory.