Edy's Message

Saturday, August 11, 2012 | Hale Ikena, Fort Shafter | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Edy Addresses the Class of 70

[Note from Glenn and Wilma Moriyama:
Edith Heu, senior class president of Roosevelt High School's Class of 1970, addressed and delivered a positive and encouraging message to the 150 guests at the Hawaii Six-0 celebration. Edy, who resides in Olympia, Washington, still refers to Hawaii as "home" in her conversations, and is grateful for any good opportunity to fly back to the islands. We know for a fact that Edy worked on this message with diligence, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility. She continuously sought guidance from God and thoroughly searched her heart and mind for the right words to say. Those who were "in the house" on August 11th, would agree that she indeed found the right words.]

Remember, Rejoice, Return

Any of you could be standing here, addressing the rest of us, having gained much life experience and no doubt, wisdom, since we received our high school diplomas some 42 years ago. So, for the privilege of speaking to you tonight, as “one of many”, I am honored. Thank you.

So here we are, at another commencement of sorts, carefully disguised as a 60th Birthday Bash. You see, tonight is not so unlike that warm June evening (June 5, 1970), when most of us sat on chairs on the literal “level playing field”of our beloved Roosevelt High School stadium. We wore the same graduation garb, received the same parchment paper diploma, and after the ceremony, were promptly decorated with leis and congratulations. We likely heard speeches about our potential and how we had our whole lives ahead of us to fulfill our dreams, and while the future was unknown, with diploma in hand, we were prepared to face it. And we had choices—get a job, go to college or trade school, get married and have children (not necessarily in that order), move out, move in, move on.

by Edy Heu

While the years between then and now have taken us to great heights and depths, whether here in Hawaii or elsewhere, at 60, we find ourselves having more and more in common with each other—the playing field is becoming increasingly level again. For starters, if we don’t already, we will soon share the same aches and pains, health issues, hair issues, housing issues, family issues. And what about all that potential, those dreams, and the future that still lies ahead? We have choices. But instead of what we do, we have become more aware, more focused on HOW we do, what we do. How will we face retirement, changing relationships, grandparenthood, caring for our aging parents, applying our energy and talents, pursuing new interests, and dealing with debilitating or life-threatening illnesses?

So we commence living the next chapter entitled, “Life after 60”. Tonight is a good start.

REMEMBER. I arrived on Tuesday and have been blessed with the gift of time to remember and reflect. I brought my yearbook on the flight over with the intention of refreshing my memory with some of your senior pictures. I smiled at the candid photos, and chuckled at what some of you wrote. What was most sobering to me, and I think to all of us watching the video tonight, was the number of our classmates who have died. I matched the list with each face, wondering not so much how they died, but how they lived. Did they know they are valued? Do you? One morning, I sat on a bench at Ala Moana Center watching people. It’s really fun for me to do this here in Hawaii because where I live in the mainland, there aren’t too many people who look like me. I identified the people I thought were about my same age before realizing I actually looked more like those other people I had labeled “Old”. When did THAT happen?

Remembering and reflecting helps us appreciate the people and places and experiences that have made us who we are. It is good to remember--while we can still remember.

REJOICE. Every day, without exception, is a gift. God has generously given us 60 years of life! He has blessed each of us with gifts and talents to enjoy and share. While we may not be able to do everything we once did, or everything we would like to do, we can be grateful for what we CAN do. Let’s do those things while we are able, do them faithfully, and do them well. The writer of Ecclesiastes (a book in the Bible) has this to say: “However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all” and “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”. Well-known and well-loved evangelist, Billy Graham, tells us the Bible is filled with examples of ordinary men and women who God used late in life (much later than 60!) with great impact. “For them, growing older wasn’t something to be denied or dreaded; it was to be embraced as part of God’s plan for their lives.” He has a plan for us too.

RETURN. I remember NBA player Charles Barkley saying he never asked or even wanted to be a role model. Do we have a choice? As long as we have life and breath we are leaders, role models for someone. Complaining, disengagement and self-indulgence are not what we want to return to the next generation. What DO we want to return to those who are watching? Character. Faith. Values. Coping with Adversity. Contentment. Growing Old with Grace. LIVE the life you want to return to them, get to know them, let them get to know the authentic you. Lessons learned from our failures and successes can help those who are following us because they are on the same journey, they just don’t realize it yet. And LIVE with a sense of urgency. While rich and full, life can only get shorter.

Adapted from Billy Graham’s book, Nearing Home (and at 93 years old, he is surely nearing home):

When we look back over our past 60 years, we may have regrets about the choices we made, but that was then, and this is now. We may recall failed relationships and missed opportunities, but that was then, and this is now. We may have ignored or rejected any thought of faith in Christ, but that was then, and this is now.

This is YOUR commencement. REMEMBER. REJOICE. RETURN.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!