HELLO!

What does time mean to you? I was pondering this question as I am often asked, “how long should my eulogy be” or “how long should my speech be”. Given that public speaking is my one gift, it is an area where people do approach me with questions. My response surprises and slightly frustrates people. “It’s not the length of your remarks, it’s what you choose to share with us.” Here’s what I mean. There are typical reflections I hear. 1) a speech or eulogy about someone or some group or some ongoing effort, and the way it is presented is to offer details, like what years of service, titles, awards, number of people served, volume of items given out, years service has been offered. 2) how wonderful the person or organization is, words like awesome and best and greatest and amazing and terrific are repeated. 3) a how-to run down of how the organization offers its services, the hours of operation, when people arrive, the numbers served, how many items every person receives. Younger presenters do the same, but with images on a screen to match the information shared. When I am invited to a presentation and the speaker is a younger person, I pray the technology will work.

When I ponder the best and worst eulogies I have heard, two examples come to mind. A doctor had died. A colleague of his spoke for 5 minutes, he shared the honorary degrees, the various departments his friend had led, papers he had written, years of service. I looked around the church. No one was paying any attention. Later, the doctor’s son, also a doctor, spoke about his father. The son shared story after story about his Dad, I remember them all. Those in the pews leaned forward, they were listening. Later, my colleague told me the son had spoken for 40 minutes. I had not noticed. I doubt others in the church, it was packed, noticed how long the son spoke either. Stories engage us, good ones remain in our memory, and they speak to a uniqueness in persons, in organizations.

In speeches about organizations, I look around the room, I see people who are joiners. Typically, the audience for such remarks are people who belong to many groups. Joiners join, those who don’t join, often do not belong to any association. Those in these audiences know about many service clubs, churches, non-profits, outreach centres. They have heard many such speeches. One question I ask of someone giving a speech about their cherished group, “what makes your organization stand out to you, tell us something interesting and unique about your efforts?” I guarantee you, if speeches included this answer, more people would listen and remember, and the length of time would not be a consideration.

Peace, Kevin

PS Speaking of sacred time…I may see some of you at Vera Errington’s funeral on Friday, November 13^th at 11 am. Please keep her daughter Lori is your prayers. Lori is offering the Words of Remembrance and singing “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” to her mom. Vera will be so proud.