From the Publisher Seek the Peace and Prosperity of the City in which I have placed you. Jeremiah 29:7 “You too can make a difference and inspire others celebrating a new job, birth of a baby, or who are to be what God called them to be” simply delighted over a kind word from a stranger. Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 2, 4 The list of things that bring us joy is endless. At the same time, our paths will cross others who may have 1) There is a time for everything, and a season for recently suffered a great loss or disappointment. every activity under the heaven: They may simply be going to work every day with 2) A time to be born and a time to die,… 4) a time no end to the problems they face. The point is that to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a a good day for you may intersect with a bad day for time to dance, your neighbor. As Solomon promises in Ecclesiastes, just wait a day or two, and the situation will reverse. e at 4Memphis join our city in celebrating the current success of the University of I attended the Cotton Bowl and planned on writing Memphis and its Athletic programs. I have a letter rejoicing in the success of Memphis lived in Memphis all my life. I attended what was Athletics. There were thousands of Memphians called Memphis State, a name that my mind still there celebrating, and yes - there was another color goes to first when people ask me where I went to in the stadium, but all I could see was blue. The school. I grew up attending basketball games at football program exists because the school never the Coliseum and watched my share of frustrating gave up on it. The city never quit supporting it, so football games at the Liberty Bowl in the ‘80s and generations to come will share what I experienced ‘90s. I must admit there was a time that I understood as a child - the joy of attending Tiger football games why people thought that Memphis should give up its at the Liberty Bowl. It is these common experiences football program to support the basketball program. passed down that unites generations and pulls the But how wrong was that thought process as the city together. The common experience of celebration 4Memphis cover celebrates the Tigers’ recent trip to and yes, even heartbreak at times. I say it again, my the Cotton Bowl and the success of ESPN GameDay. uncle taught me never to give up on people and to never quit. The message of the Memphis Athletic program echoes a message taught to me by my uncle - never Ecclesiastes 3:4, "a time to weep and a time to laugh, give up on people and never quit. My uncle, Richard a time to mourn and a time to dance,” a passage Walker, passed away this week, and I write my letter from scripture that we are called to embrace daily having just returned from his funeral. He battled and, if we are successful interacting with our fellow cancer bravely, fighting to stay with those he loved, Memphians, remembering our shared human who were not ready to let him go. condition, we will live in a city that is not only known for its current Athletic programs, but we would also I draw inspiration for this letter from Ecclesiastes, be known as a City of Grace. because not only does it adequately reflect how I feel today, but I think it also properly reflects the human Seek the Peace and Prosperity of Memphis condition of everybody we interact with daily. In our daily activities, we will interact with people who are Jim Walker
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FEBRUARY 2020
