Relay for Life, June 2008, Hamilton’s

22 years ago a surgeon in Tacoma, Washington spent 24 hour circling a track and raised $27,000 for cancer research. Relay for Life… now the world’s largest fundraiser. Last year: $405 million A miracle. And many of you out there are walking results of miracles.

But tonight I’d like to talk not about the funds raised, but the true gift that the Relay for Life and the cancer survivors have given to the rest of the world. In so many ways, you’ve taught the rest of us how to live.

Eifel Tower… students.. Coke machine… What’s next?

In general, American’s are great about planning for the future…In school: think ahead, think ahead…And we’re wonderful about remembering our past… in danger of overdosing on poor Abraham Lincoln by this time next year.. Lincoln Museum.. little girl But when it comes to living in the present, we stink. Our thoughts are so consumed with what’s next, that we often miss what’s in front of us.

Relay for Life and the heroes in this room tonight keep teaching us the precious gift of living in the present.

Heather Baccus..New Salem Susan Hatfield…Europe Air Italia.. .students Marie Peck..salt and pepper shakers “Teacher, the geranium in the window sill just died and you kept right on talking” Grandma in Neponsit…kidnapped grandkids

We sometimes flatter ourselves and think about the gift we give the families of victims and the survivors with Relay for Life, but the great gift comes to us from you, who’ve taught us how to live. Thank you, survivors..for helping us learn how to appreciate what we have in front of us. And thank God for those who’ve left us who in leaving left the gift of living in the present.

And old farmer near S’field…round stone barn…the words, “Not just a living, but a life.”