INAUGURATION DAY I nauguration Day, Sept. 20, was, for me, an almost perfect day. I spent it at Harding, surrounded by family and friends, celebrating the university that has done so much to shape my life. As I reflect on that occasion, my mind is filled with rich, warm and cherished memories. My prayer had been that it would be a day when Harding was celebrated and God was glorified. I believe that prayer was answered. Even though there were 1.79 inches of rain in Searcy that day, in my mind it was an almost perfect day. I made my peace with the whole idea of an inauguration earlier in the summer when I attended a seminar for new university presidents. One of our teachers addressed the awkwardness many new presidents feel about all the fuss being made about a new president. She told us to get over our discomfort and recognize why an inauguration is important. She said, "The timing of an inauguration is the start of a new presidency, but the subject of an inauguration is the university itself. An inauguration is an opportunity to celebrate the university!" When I came to see that the inauguration was much more about Harding than it was about me, I was free to embrace the event enthusiastically and wholeheartedly. When Sept. 20 arrived, we woke up to a torrential rain that the forecast indicated was going to last most of the day. Thankfully, we had nothing scheduled for the morning. A student photographer had earlier arranged to shadow me that day, but he had little to take pictures of that morning. My parents, my oldest daughter who lives in Montana, and some life-long family friends were staying in our home for the occasion. I remember little about the morning except that Ann trimmed my hair and I went over my address one final time. I presented the speech vocally in my office at home, and the student photographer took pictures as he listened. I didn't know if he was hearing the words or merely focusing on the optics. However, by the end, he appeared to be moved by the message. He will probably never know what a great gift he gave me in that moment; his response gently assured me that the message had both substance and heart. After that, I was prepared to deliver my address, "Community of Mission." I don't remember ever feeling nervous on inauguration day, but I do remember having the sense that I wanted the time to come quickly. Around 1 p.m. I started getting ready, and by 1:25 we left our home for the short walk to the Benson Auditorium. "I remember having It was still raining hard, so Ann and I walked with an umbrella. She the sense that I was wasweanngnewb1ack • • • shoes she had bought stand mg In the middle forthe occasion, and of a movement in Harding University history." by the sidewalk near the circular drive in front of the Benson, she stepped into water all the way up to her ankle. Once we got inside, I made my way to the center entrance and waited for the platform party to assemble. My thoughts at that moment? I remember praying that God would bless and be glorified by everything that was about to take place. I remember thinking that I somehow wanted to capture in my soul everything about that moment for the rest of my life. I remember having the sense that I was standing in the middle of a movement in Harding University history. And I remember feeling the most amazing sense of peace. It had been and would continue to be, for me, an almost perfect day. #HUINAUGURATION tl I t ( "Mission is about doing everything we do for the glory of God." Dr. Bruce Mclarty #H Uinauguration Junior Shelby Smith An amazing day in an amazing place! God is at work in the "Community of Mission" at @HardingU. #H Uinauguration Junior Erin Perring "For the past we remember, the present we celebrate and the future we trust." Dr. Michael Justus #HU inauguration Maggie Hlasta Admissions Secretary
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