Please forgive me if I’ve posted this before. The ost above from TOW’D brought this story to mind. It is a true story and not only quite telling, but very funny.

Years ago Joanie and I attended a church in Oregon where the youth pastor was from Canada. He related an incident that had taken place at his previous church. When the high school seniors were getting ready to graduate, the pastor assembled a panel of experts from the congregation – a senior VP from a bank, the owner of a local lumber yard/hardware store, a medical doctor, a college professor and several others to include the senior elder of the church (a gentleman named Vernon Wilson). For several weeks, the pastor asked the high schoolers to submit written questions that would be fielded by this panel of experts during a banquet that was to be held in the senior’s honor.

The appointed day came and the seniors along with hundreds of members of the congregation assembled for the celebration. As the meals were cleared, the pastor assembled the panel on the stage and then drew questions from a large glass bowl. It went something like this:

“My grandparents gave me a $1,000 check for graduation. What should I do with this money?” The question was fielded by the VP from the bank with several options for investments.

Another question was read, “I don’t think I am college material – I’d like to work someplace where I can actually learn a trade. What are my options?” The business owner suggested the young man come by his establishment and he could get him started in learning the lumber/hardware business.

Several more questions were fielded and answers/suggestions were rendered. All was going according to plan until the pastor drew the following question:

“At what age do people stop having sex?”

A collective inhale sound was followed by total silence as the very conservative congregation waited for the pastor to dismiss this question. Instead Vernon stood to his feet and replied,

“I think I can address this one.” He re-read the question, “At what age do people stop having sex?... Hmmm, well I don’t rightly know, but I can tell you it’s sometime after 70.”

The place erupted with clapping and cheers as Vernon sat down with a big smile on his face.

Up until that evening, all of the high school boys had revered Vernon and always addressed him as “Mr. Wilson.” In the ensuing days, the high school boys were seen giving Mr. Wilson high-fives and asking,

“Yo Vernon – how’s Mrs. Wilson!” – Which elicited great peals of laughter from all parties followed by great times of discussion among Vernon and the boys. He became an icon and a hero to those kids.