Inaugural "Last Lecture" A Success

AID sponsored its inaugural "Last Lecture" event Tuesday night, headlined by Reverend Michael Himes.

It was the first in a planned series of orations inspired by Randy Pausch's popular book, The Last Lecture. Rev. Himes was asked to reflect upon what he would say were he giving the final lecture of his life and then give that lecture to BC students. 

Originally scheduled to be held in Higgins 300, it was eventually moved to the Murray Function Room due to the anticipation of a large crowd. Truth be told, the size of the audience ended up being better suited for Robsham Theatre, with an estimated thousand people packing into every inch of available space. 

After jokingly proposing a solution to the problem of providing the promised desserts to everyone in attendance (it involved a few loaves of bread and some fish), Rev. Himes discussed the importance of giving ourselves to others and how we can go about doing it. Paradoxically, he said that if we try to hold on to life, we will lose it; it is when we give our lives away that we are truly living. 

During the discussion Rev. Himes suggested that the best way to learn something is to teach it. In addition, he expressed that it is not enough to reflect on reality; we must be actively engaged in life to gain a full appreciation for and understanding of it. He also explored the concept of friendship and its immense value. But all of his lecture spoke in one way or another to the overarching concept of giving oneself to others. 

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Rev. Himes's lecture was truly amazing. I find it difficult, if not impossible, to do it justice in my own words. What I can say is that his speech was one of the most remarkable experiences I have had in my first year here at BC, one that I will not soon forget. The next "Last Lecture,"planned for Spring 2009, will have a tough act to follow.