By Fr. Justin Fulton
A few questions for you: answer from your mind quickly. No looking up answers!
Who won the 1991 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament? Who won the Women’s Tournament?...
Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002?...
Who was the 16th Vice-President of the United States?...
Who won the Heisman Trophy in 2005?...
Now... Who was your favorite teacher?
We don’t know the answers to most of the above questions... but we all know who our favorite teacher was.
There are some titles and accolades people work for all their lives for fame, glory, and pride—and then, there are teachers. Teachers never, ever stop learning. Teachers never, ever stop teaching. Teachers have a lasting impact on the world.
Recently, I helped with the funeral of my middle school mathematics teacher, track, and basketball coach Gail Searcey. Mr. Searcey was a good man. He cared about his students. He cared about his wife Connie, and his two sons Dustin and Chad. He was calm and patient. He was real. He was simple. He was humorous. He led by example.
Mr. Searcey was born and raised in Barneston in Gage County. He was a tremendous athlete. He taught in Hanover, Kan., and McCook before moving to Auburn in 1977. He formed a generation of Auburn kids with his teaching and leading by example from 1977 to his retirement in 2008. He was a founding member of the Father Flicek Knights of Columbus Council at St. Joseph Parish in Auburn in 1977. He passed away from Parkinson’s Disease in late December.
Mr. Searcey never once wagged his finger at his students or others. He kept his politics to himself. He was pretty quiet. His best method of teaching was the way he lived his life. He practiced his faith with the way he lived.
We do the same at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. We prefer to preach the Gospel with our lives and with minimal use of words. As the country and world turned to Facebook and digital media to bicker and protest the daylights out of everything this past week, we counseled people who were suicidal and helped struggling couples find peace in our counseling services. We again fed homeless people. We provided food to families. We gave out emergency cash assistance to people so they could stay in their apartments. We gave people clothing. We helped people find jobs. We helped people become citizens of the United States. We provided thrift stores so some of the unemployed and working poor could feel the empowerment and pride of purchasing goods on their own. We protected women’s and children’s lives through our services at St. Gianna Women’s Homes. We tried to be Jesus to Jesus in the poor.
Let us not let the distractions of the modern day lead us to bickering, depression, division, anxiety, and hopelessness. Let us take our eyes off of the distractions of the present day and let us open our ears, eyes, and heart to the cry of Jesus in the poor. Let us not forget that our lives are teaching moments at all times. Let us teach others how to be Christians and preach His Gospel with our lives much the way Mr. Searcey did with his.
Thank you for living your faith in Jesus Christ and thank you for your prayers and support of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska.
May God bless and keep us always!
