A dear friend sent me a story recently that, though quite inspiring, could easily have been imagined. After doing a little research, I found that it did indeed happen on May 20, 2001 during the commencement exercises at Washington Community High School in Washington, Illinois.
With the help of the ACLU, the family of that years valedictorian brought suit to prevent the inclusion of the invocation and benediction traditionally given at the school's commencement ceremony. Three days before the event, the court ruled in favor of the family, barring the inclusion of prayers in the ceremony on the basis of their having been deemed "school sponsored."
What took place is truly heartwarming.
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing . and the traditional caps, they looked almost ..... as grown up as they felt.
Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears. This class would NOT pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.
The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech rece ived a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then it happened.
All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!
The student on stage.. simply looked at the audience and said, “God Bless You, each and every one of you!” And he walked off stage...
The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future, with or without the court's approval.
Amen!
Sonny Melendrez was born to inspire.
He has hosted or been a keynote speaker at over 5,000 events around the world during the last 30 years, both locally and around the world. As a broadcaster, he was recently inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
He is included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the Top 100 Radio Personalities of All-Time and twice named Billboard Magazine’s National Radio Personality of the Year.
It is estimated that he has help raise over 100 million dollars in money, goods, and services during his career
His website, http://www.SonnyRadio.com offers over 2,000 features to "Feel better about being alive!"
He is also an award winning motivational speaker and author of The Art of Living With Enthusiasm.