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“Sophisticated Savagery”
I am a lucky guy. I have many heroes and most of them have been my personal friends and mentors. One of my favorites was the late Kays Gary, legendary writer for The Charlotte Observer. Several times while I was his pastor, he excerpted my sermons for his columns. Today I am including one of his columns here. I always considered him the best preacher in Charlotte. The most cherished compliment I ever received was from Kays when he once wrote of something he borrowed from me. He said, “The man can write.” I am borrowing this piece because even though he published it 43 years ago in The Observer, it is still timely as a new class of freshmen gets ready to enter college. And I have Kays on my mind. Now Kays speaks:
“Here's something now for the preacher just an hour or so away from the pulpit without a sermon topic. Here's something too, for brand-new mothers and fathers who will determine in the next six years what kind of people are to inherit the earth.
“It comes in a routine little news release from a nearby college. Enrolling freshmen were asked to define the goals they have set for themselves. Here's a fair sampling: 'I want a rich and secure future.' 'I just want to graduate and make money.' 'I want a good education so I can make a living when I am out on my own.' I want to get to know and understand people.' 'I want to find the purpose of my life.' 'Most of all (I want) to succeed and be well-known.' 'I seek a better understanding of a complex world and I want the ability to earn a pot full of money.' '…to get prepared for a high-paying job.' '…to broaden my understanding of people and prepare to become a social case-worker.' '…obtain a background for making a sizeable income as an adult.'
“There it is. No direct declarations of purpose in giving, contributing or service, though a few imply these inherent goals. The evidence is overwhelming that self-service has become the Holy Grail. We can't flail the freshmen. They didn't dream up these values. It is their legacy. Our gift to them, if you please. They are launched, now, with these goals, in a church-supported college and it accepts the heaviest of challenges--to accomplish in four years that which we couldn't accomplish in 18. It's an enormous challenge because the mold is cast in the image of sophisticated savagery. The professors could use a prayer.”
Ah, what a thinker and writer, Kays Gary: “sophisticated savagery.” Always at this time of year, preachers and parents and professors need our prayers--students too! The new class of freshmen especially!
Those comments were quintessentially Kays Gary. His daughter, Dr. Debbie Alicen is a chip off the old block. Like her Dad, she is a passionate crusader for right things. She specializes in challenging bureaucratic misbehavior that harms people. She has a website that challenges Goliaths and which also contains a library of some of her Dad's columns and my eulogy for him. I'm on a personal crusade to help keep Kays Gary's legacy alive. If you would like to read more, here's how to do it. Go to my brand new website: www.southern-fried-preacher.com.
Now, how's that for a sneaky way to announce a new way to access this divine stuff? Blessed boosterism, I call it. Then, after you read the latest from me, check out the “links” section and click right onto Debbie's site. You who remember Kays with affection will recognize him in her face as well as in her writing! Also check out the link to my son David's website. He writes cleverly for do-it-your-selfers. He would probably advise: read all this with safety glasses!
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