I couldn’t tell you who gave my commencement address, and not just because it happened 9 years ago. But I imagine the 2006 graduates of Knox College won’t quickly forget theirs. I hope the sentiments of that address stick with them as well.
Now will saying “yes” get you in trouble at times? Will saying “yes” lead you to doing some foolish things? Yes it will. But don’t be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying “yes” begins things. Saying “yes” is how things grow. Saying “yes” leads to knowledge. “Yes” is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say “yes.”
What?
You don’t remember Sir Geoffrey Palmer, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand?
How on earth could you forget his stirring words about… uhhh… sheep? And irrigating for Kiwi fruit? And the Lord of the Rings?
I’ll never forget him.
I think he mentioned Douglas Adams, too, and some strange New Zealand bird with mating habits that are less than ideal for promoting survival. So it couldn’t have been all bad.
It was the Cockatoo. That’s all I remember.
Actually, it was the Kakapo. I’m sure of that because I have the book in which Douglas Adams describes the bird in depth.
Of course, I didn’t remember that Palmer talked about that.