The Rapture didn't happen on Saturday but an end happened yesterday, “I will not say goodbye, I would say until we meet again; To God be the Glory” she said as she closed the show, a very significant chapter of her life. Yes I am talking about Oprah Winfrey, a woman who has given us twenty five (25) years of her life. I recalled hearing one of the late night comics saying, the world could not end on Saturday because Oprah’s last show was on the 25th. Well he was so right about that. We had her for one hour one last time on that stage as the host of the show.
I am convinced her guess’s anticipation of what the finale show would be stirred emotions of all sorts. Call her what you want, I think the title of TEACHER suits her. A teacher is a person who is many things under that one title. Besides, as she said, she wanted to be a teacher while growing up. The distinct difference between her teaching career and the teacher who goes to school each day is that she had the largest classroom ever and she loved what she was called to do and enjoyed every bit of it. Her classes were filled everyday with millions of people, men, women, boys, girls, gay, straight, black, white etc. from every corner of the world. Some listened attentively with pens and notepads in hand while others listened with their hearts and soul. She was present every day of the 4516 lessons she taught. It is always a great thing to do what you love and get paid to do it!!!
There was always a lesson for one to walk away with from her classroom, regardless of how infinitesimal it may sound at the time. She brought the right people on to discuss the right issues and in the process she made them a name for themselves. The Caribbean was definitely a part of that classroom and I am sure there are many who would attribute their success or their new perspective on some crucial issues in life to Oprah Winfrey and the Oprah Winfrey Show. Sadly the real impact the show and Oprah, as a role model, had on the lives of persons around the world may never get aired because there is no one to adequately record such.
When I was in Guyana, one of the things I was planning to make a reality when I get to the United States was to attend the Oprah Winfrey Show. Well, so much for that plan! I have no one to blame but myself because I never made the effort to get tickets. There is a lesson to learn here though, and that is that having plans with no action is absolutely useless. It leaves us with thoughts of “What If”, “What would have been”, “What should have been” etc. I have always been an ardent viewer of the Show and I am encouraged even more by this last Show to pursue my goals, listen to God as he guides me on this journey, which is not easy but not rough enough to detour me.
As Oprah said thank you to the world for allowing her into our homes and hearts for a quarter of a century, I am sure there were tears of joy and some that are just unexplainable. As she graced the stage for the last time as the host, her warmth, elegance, and radiance lit our TV screens and our hearts. She looked stunningly beautiful in her peach to pink three quarter sleeve dress with a low cut U- neck and of knee high. This was a perfect last show image to leave her audience.
I am sure many would agree with me that one hour was not enough to put 25 years of the Oprah Winfrey Show. However, I must say that that is the very reason she is Oprah, she did a great job of putting the right pieces together. Like a true teacher she has encouraged, inspired, taught, learned and provided solutions for problems. Looking composed for the most part the queen of Television could not hold back the tears as she spoke of her childhood and the journey she took to this day.
Her final words on the show were, “WE DID IT” though they were to her dog …, they were actually the repeat of what she said to her team who she always praised throughout her career because there would be no Show without their contribution. That is what sets her apart from other talk show hosts; she is humble, reasonable in her judgment and leadership, all remarkable qualities of a great teacher.
The thoughts she shared over the years were obviously too much to fit into a one hour show. However those were shared pertinent enough to be repeated while there were a few new ones. Here are some of the thoughts I found significant during the last hour of the show and one of the most significant hours on Television.
“I just wanted to do a good job and cause no harm”
“Life is energy and the way we respond to it determines how the universe will respond to you”.
“The energy you put out comes right back to you”.
“No one completes you”.
“You are responsible for your life”.
“I had no vision”, “My team and Jesus…Nothing but the hand of God made it possible”
“What God? The one and only GOD I talking about, whatever it is to you”.
“Grace is working in your life if you let it in.”
“Be still and know it, I waited and listen”.
“God is love, God is Life.”
“What are the whispers in your life? What does it stay”?
“Connect, embrace, liberate”.
For more things Caribbean visit www.caribbeanframes.com
No comments:
Post a Comment