Sorry its taken so long for me to post a real blog post, and not just links of YouTube videos, etc. I promise I will make more of an effort as we near the end of my reign in November and beyond.
I recently had the opportunity to give the Youth Day sermon at my home church, Metropolitan AME in Washington DC. I grew up in that church, so it was an honor to sit in the pulpit that I have looked up to since I was a little baby.To have an opportunity to speak to the kids at the church (and the adults) to share a message that was close to my heart was the most fulfilling thing to do after Miss USA. It touched me that my pastor said he knew win or lose I had a message that he wanted the congregation to hear.
I come from a long line of pastors, preachers, bishops, and deacons...it felt like a long awaited right of passage.I'm not the most tech savvy so I wanted to post my draft notes from my sermon...then I'll post the audio and video clips from the speech.
If you want to hear go to the AME sermon site and click on my portion, on the links page (its not as complicated as I'm describing haha).
I wanted to include the notes from my sermon just because I'm proud of the fact that I wrote the entire sermon. Although I added a few things while speaking I feel that one can still get the feeling of what I was talking about from the notes.
Enjoy, because I know I enjoyed writing it!
XOXO,
MacKenzie
Good morning everyone. To Pastor Braxton, Reverend Marie Braxton, the ministerial staff, and members of Metropolitan I want to thank you all for this opportunity to speak today. This is perhaps the most humbling and exciting perk that has resulted from being a member of Metropolitan and Miss District of Columbia USA. I’ve always wanted to stand in this pulpit. I was asked once why I chose to represent The District rather than Florida where I attend the University of Miami. And quite simply my answer was that DC helped make me the woman I am, so I’d like to thank everyone here at Metropolitan that has been a part of my life for contributing to the woman that I am becoming. I grew up in this church like many of you have and many will. Presidents have worshiped here, iconic members of the civil rights movement have been eulogized here, and most importantly I was baptized here and one day I hope to get married in this church. I urge all the members old and young to continue the restoration efforts because this church is a vital part of the DC and AME communities.
I was honored when I was asked to speak on Youth Day. I’ve grown up in this church and sat in those pews, listening to the countless number of distinguished speakers, so its quite a heady experience to think that I can stand in the same place as them. Some of the greatest orators have stood behind this lectern, and (insert number) are standing back here. So I ask you to pray for me this morning that God may use me as an instrument to deliver a message this morning.
I think Will Smith summed up what all children, teenagers, and a few adults think at least once in their lifetime, “there’s no need to argue parents just don’t understand.” However in my wise, sage, 21 year of life I’ve learned quite the opposite. When I was asked to speak I thought there was only one thing I wanted to talk about…life lessons your parents will teach you, but you’ll never pay attention to.
Growing up my parents would give me little pieces of wisdom that I either didn’t listen to, tuned out Charlie Brown style, or didn’t believe until I got older and was on my own. I know I’m not alone. Those moments when their lips are moving but no sound is coming out. Look at the bible, filled with stories of God telling his children something and at times they chose to ignore or doubt. God had to burn a bush just to get through to Moses, he had to part the red sea just to prove he was legit, and had to bring down Sodom and Gomorrah, just to keep his “kids” out of someplace they didn’t need to be in the first place…a far cry different from grounding or taking a cell phone away, but all parents have to go to certain extremes to get their point across.
This morning I’m hoping to share five of those things my parents taught me that I’ve finally let sink in. And maybe if you’re like me and you don’t always listen to your parents, maybe you’ll take my advice – I find that people are more receptive of a stranger in a sparkle sash.
My grandmother used to say it to my mom and my mom always says it to me, everything happens for a reason and you’ll understand it better by and by. I always took this one with a grain of salt. I knew to praise God and thank him when things went well, but when things went badly I wondered why if he was ordering my steps would he wouldn’t give me my heart’s desire. I thanked him when I set records swimming; I asked why when I was faced with the decision to move on from swimming. I thanked him on getting accepted to college, and later I rued the day he ever let me plant myself in Miami away from everything and everyone I love after a difficult transition to college life. As documented on film I prayed after winning my state title, and asked why me when my uncle passed a week later. I had gone from my highest high to my lowest moment watching my beloved uncle who had been like another father depart this earth. That’s the way the cycle went until I truly understood what was meant by you’d understand it better by and by.
I know the exact date, place and time that I learned my lesson…May 16th 2010 at 5pm in Las Vegas, Nevada standing on stage at Miss USA. In preparation for Miss USA my pageant coach and parents had commissioned the most gorgeous dress I’d ever seen. It was a gold dress covered in Swarovski crystals, and weighed approximately 15 to 20 pounds. Throughout my entire time in Vegas the dress had zipped up with ease, even 2 hours before the live telecast in the dress rehearsal. As the lights went up and millions watched live, the Top 15 was called I was crest fallen when my name wasn’t included.
I held it together all the way to the dressing room and cried in the mirror, wondering how in the world this was a part of God’s plan…to let me fail. As the night wore on 15 minutes before we took the stage in our gowns the unthinkable happened, my zipper burst at the seam because of the weight of the dress. They thought of everything they could to remedy my problem, they tried to safety pin and sew me in, but nothing would work because of the construction of the dress. When I went on stage the first time in evening gown I was embarrassed – by the time I came out for the end of the show I was laughing. I stood on stage holding my gown up, unzipped in the back, on live national television. What the rest of the world saw was a very happy, smiling, pleasant girl…but what was going on inside was completely different and what the people behind me can tell you is that they got to know me on a very personal level. I was laughing because I finally got it, I was even standing on stage saying in my mind “OK God, I get it, very funny…you proved your point.”
At that moment I understood. If I had made the Top 15 I could have made the Top 10 then when evening gown competition had come up I would have basically had nothing to wear on stage. I would have literally shown my behind on national TV. So like a flood I got it, and not just this moment but doubt I had before. I wasn’t swimming because I’d fallen in love with TV reporting, which led me to be lead anchor and an Emmy nominated reporter. I was in Miami because that one lonely night I questioned being at UM was when the germ of the idea was planted to compete for my state title. Even losing my uncle had reaffirmed in me that no matter what I was going through I had to keep pushing because I was the result of a lot of tears, prayers, and hopes from so many people that loved me and came before me.
It’s said that we are nothing more than leaves blowing in a divine wind. I can say that after that night I learned to allow myself to blow with the wind because the divine breeze will float me to exactly where I’m meant to be…even if I don’t realize it at that time. And if you truly believe that if God orders your steps you’ll have faith that even when those steps don’t go toward what you want – they go toward the divine path that God has set before you. There’s a verse in the Koran that says, “You have a plan, and I have a plan, but God is the best planner of all.”
My dad has always been a big proponent of speaking to everyone he meets with the utmost respect and graciousness from presidents to the man shining your shoes at the airport. I learned early on that you treat everyone the way you want to be treated and listen to the kind words of strangers because as my great-grandmother said, it might be the voice of an angel. I grew up with stories from my dad about my grandfather Green working as a locker room attendant, and stories from my mom about my grandmother helping to clean around people’s houses. They always reminded me that my ancestors weren’t that far removed from being waiters, cashiers, and cleaning dishes and that I needed to treat everyone with that respect that I would hope they gave my grandparents. Even as a young child I knew I’d get in trouble if I didn’t call the waiters and waitresses sir and ma’am…so there I was at a country club being laughed at by my friends for calling the people they never acknowledged sir and ma’am as they cleared the table.
As much as they mocked me I got the last laugh once I went off to college. While my friends stood inline frustrated that they were being passed over by the always short tempered cafeteria worker I got my plate without a fuss because I’d respected the same woman and had a few conversations with her. Even out in Vegas at Miss USA as other girls sat at the table frustrated because they could barely get a waitress to stop and take their order for a cup of coffee I was always able to have tea and typically went back to my room to extra bottles of water tucked away by my bed. I knew that every smile, every good morning ma’am, and simple acknowledgment hadn’t gone unnoticed, especially by the most important people…the ones that handled my food and helped keep me neat.
Through most of high school I’d heard that writing wasn’t my strong suite. Although I loved journalism and frequented the Newseum to give my news reports I never thought of being a journalist or reporter. Then after transferring to my alma mater Our Lady of Good Counsel I met the man that would change my mind, Barry Trick. Mr. Trick was my AP English teacher. He was the first teacher since the 5th grade that felt I had a talent for writing. He constantly encouraged me, pushed me to write whenever in a notebook that stayed tucked in my backpack. But the day that I knew I wanted to be a journalist was when Ms. Rosa Parks passed. Mr. Trick told the teaching advisor of the school paper that I should write an op-ed piece. So with 2 hours before print and Mr. Trick over my shoulder I wrote my first published piece.
Days later my dad was asked to speak at Ms. Parks’ memorial service. Paid writers, and even my brother a tenured professor sent him options of remarks he could give. But he didn’t feel that any were saying the sentiment he wanted to convey. He came across my editorial and much to my surprise chose to give my remarks at such a monumental occasion. As the world, Ted Kennedy and Oprah heard my words I knew I wanted to be a reporter…disseminating my words to the world. I like to think that Mr. Trick was an angel sent to guide me toward my real passion. Anna in the bible was a stranger to many when she preached of the coming of Jesus. It was those that chose to take a moment and listen to the words of that 85-year-old stranger who were ready when Jesus came. The words of a stranger should never be over looked
The biggest and most resounding piece of advice that I’m thankful I finally understand is “God never brings you this far to leave you.” As I prepare to graduate in December I’m not filled with the assumed graduate dread. I know deep in my spirit that God didn’t bring me this far, through college, through these lessons, accomplishments and moments to give up on me and leave me hanging. I know in my heart that God isn’t a mean kid pointing a magnifying glass at an anthill waiting to destroy you once you feel you’ve reached the top.
In the scripture we read it can be inferred as a conversation between a parent and child. Elisha has to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Much like a child who needs to soak up the advice and guidance of their parent. Your parents won’t always be around to stand over your shoulder. The 9th verse says, “Before I be taken away from thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.”
In Thomas Kelly’s “A Testament of Devotion” about the Quaker philosophy it says: “Deep within us all there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center, a speaking voice, to which we may continuously return. Eternity is at our hearts pressing upon our time-worn lives, warming us with intimations of our astounding destiny, calling us home unto itself.” This passage infers that there is something within us. That God is taking us somewhere but that we have to be quiet and willing to listen, rather than always asking God for something. Even Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” So learn to take a moment to meditate. To hear what God has to say to you, and not always what you have to say to God. And the same goes for any parent be they divine or not, take a moment to truly listen to what they have to tell you because it may be the best advise you’ve ever received.
Lastly, I want to leave you all with this thought by Dr. Benjamin Mays, “I have only a moment. Only sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, can’t refuse it. Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it. But it’s up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it. Give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny little minute. But eternity is in it.” We all as children of God need to grab each moment and live it as though it were our last. As my father says, “the world will be changed for the better, because you were in it.”
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