Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Service Award
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes, 1 second
(L to R) Rabbi Uri Allen, myself, Cindy Hannen, Kathleen Murray, and Rabbi Paul Kerbel.
Acceptance Speech
Over the years, I have often spoken at award ceremonies and events. In the six years since my retirement, I have had a few occasions where I expected to talk, but in each case, I did not. I took morning walks during the first week of January to test ideas and outline my thoughts.
The week before the award ceremony, Cindy called to inform me that I needed to keep my speech brief, around two to three minutes. I used my walks to refine my language and adhere to the time limit. After sharing my draft with her, she responded, “Well, that is absolutely beautiful. I mean beautiful. Well done, my friend.”
I will leave it to my readers to listen to my speech and draw their conclusions.
Journey of Faith and Love
Almost four years ago, I felt like a lost sheep, searching for a way to live without my wife. I began a journey that involved walking, reading, volunteering, and worshiping. While grief initially motivated me to embark on this path, it has now transformed into a journey of faith and love—guideposts that have helped me find meaning and purpose as a single man in my seventies.
As Jeffrey Rosen wrote in “The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America,”
Today we think of happiness as the pursuit of pleasure. But classical and Enlightenment thinkers defined happiness as the pursuit of virtue—as being good, rather than feeling good. For this reason, the Founders believed that the quest for happiness is a daily practice requiring mental and spiritual self-discipline, as well as mindfulness and rigorous time management. At its core, the Founders viewed the pursuit of happiness as a lifelong quest for character improvement, where we use our powers of reason to moderate our unproductive emotions so that we can be our best selves and serve others.”
If life is like a narrow bridge, my journey demands that I focus my time and energy on being good rather than simply feeling good. Over fifty years ago, as a first-year student at Stetson University, I managed my time to ensure that I was prepared for class and thoroughly benefited from my education. Today, my journey is no longer motivated by grief; it has transformed into a dedication to self-improvement and engagement.
Every step I take, every page I turn, every hour I spend volunteering, and every prayer I offer are significant moments on my journey of personal growth. As my friend Danny said nearly a year ago, “You are an incredible person! You are a new person! A better person! Jan, although not here physically, has done so much for you!”
My friend and rabbi, Rav Uri, echoed Danny’s sentiments during the award ceremony, reminding us of our shared purpose. The award displayed in my home transcends mere recognition; it stands as a milestone, a guiding trail marker that inspires me to follow my path and reinforces my unwavering commitment to repairing the world. Tikun Olam!
The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. All donations are tax-deductible.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
After almost 48 years, I recently lost my wife, Jan Lilien. Like The Little Prince, Jan and I believed that “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.” This blog is a collection of my random thoughts on love, grief, life, and all things considered.
