Date: Wed, 7 Sep 1994 15:09:09 -0500
From: "Settummanque, the blackeagle"
<waltoml@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU>
Subject: Bowing One's Head
To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L
<SCOUTS-L%TCUBVM.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU>
This should have made it to my book, but didn't. Thanks whomever started this string about respect for the flag and bowing one's head!
As a public speaker, I get a lot of invites to come to churches and schools to talk about Scouting or Exploring and how it made me the person I am today, good or bad. I enjoy especially going to schools and churches where I'm the "minority" (not only being the only Black person there, but in many cases, the only "Christian" person there). The message is the same, and centers around the personal values that I've learned through Scouting and the awful amount of fun and enjoyment that I've had through interaction in the program and it's elements.
In a small town in Michigan, right outside of Flint, was a church with only one Black member. I rightly forgot why I was invited or whom invited me (I think that it was one of those cards that you exchanged during the Jamboree two years before, one of those "Hey!! Whenever you get around these parts, stop in and we'll have you talk to our congregation" or something like that. It's not important).
I love the reception/sharing time after the services, whereby all of the womenfolk (and some of the men) have prepared a large set of tables with several entries, lots of desserts, and (of course) coffee and tea to "beat the band". I would spend more time swapping stories and explaining my role in Scouting more so during my ten minutes during the service. For the next hour or two, I would be there, standing with a paper plate full of food and doing a juggling act of shaking hands, talking with people and stuffing my face all at the same time. I think that I've got it down to a small science.
Well, maybe not. At this particular time, after everyone got in line and started to get their food (and of course, the guests get their food first so that everyone can see them juggle their plate and drink while talking!), the pastor of the church called upon one of the guests to offer a word of prayer before we all ate. I had to QUICKLY swallow the really yummy piece of pumpkin pie because as "most kids know", you are NOT supposed to eat before you give thanks. I think that the pastor did that on purpose...either that, or he wanted to see if I can talk and eat at the same time!
Now, I don't know about you, but Karen Becvar and later on my mother taught me that you don't pray with your eyes open. "God won't know that you're sincere", Karen told me in the baseball field many years ago; my mother would simply pinch my leg or hit my shoulder when I would attempt to fake her out and just bow my head. If the pain didn't get you, her stern "Michael's" would!
After sitting down my plate on what I thought was the edge of the table, I started in on my prayer, asking everyone to please join with me in respectful prayer. I closed my eyes and spoke. As I prayed, giving thanks for getting there, for the friendship of the people and for the service His servants provided, I felt something wet on my shoes. I thought that perhaps my shoes were sweating, but I kept my eyes closed as I finished with asking for His blessing on the food provided and of the people whom prepared it and sharing it all with us. As I spoke my "Amen", I opened my eyes and found that all of my food had found its way to the floor. I didn't place my plate on a table, but rather on a seat which I hit while I had my eyes closed.
I waited until after everyone went through the line once more before getting something to eat. I think that there's a lesson there somewhere.... In the meantime, I had to still endure lots of questions and one woman was kind enough to get me another cup of coffee while I was cleaning up my mess on their flooring.
I think that the people of that church also found someone that is NOT a "professional speechmaker", a person that like all folks, aren't "perfect examples". I *do* spills too!
Settummanque!
Settummanque, the blackeagle... (MAJ) Mike L. Walton ( co-Owner, Blackeagle Services ___)_ (h) 502-782-7992 (f) 502-781-7279 (w) 502-782-7467 |-=-|] 5350 Louisville Road, #52 Bowling Green, KY 42101-7211 -=====- Internet: WALTOML@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU/America OnLine: KYBLKEAGLE@AOL.COM
11/20/95