Chair. Sunrise. Banana. I was given those words and told that later I would be asked to repeat them. There was a brief moment of panic, since I’ve always been bad at remembering names under pressure.
But then I realized I could make them into a sentence: “At sunrise I sit on my chair and eat a banana.” When the words sound like the beginning of a story, they are easy to remember.
For a long time now, I have been fashioning words and ideas into stories. Whether the task is a news article, a video project, or a board report, a story is often the best way to communicate. Stories disarm. They open a way. They help us make sense of our lives.
Over the years, my most regular writing has appeared in Messenger, in this column that began in 1998 when then-editor Fletcher Farrar invited me to fill the space that previously had been “From the editor.” Today’s essay is my 299th (and final) “From the publisher.”
The most frequent question asked a soon-to-be retiree, I have learned, is this: “So, do you have big plans?”
To be honest, I thought the idea of retiring was to not have to make big plans. I’ve been planning curriculum projects, books, magazine issues, videos, reports, budgets, and strategies for almost 45 years. So my most immediate plan is to hand over the reins to other people.
This issue is the last with my name on the masthead, and next month’s will be the last with Walt Wiltschek’s name. We are grateful for his years as at-large editor. Walt has brought a graceful spirit to his work whether he’s the editor in charge (as he was 2004–2010) or the part-time at-large editor who ably pitches in where needed. It’s his clever mind that’s been the source of The Exchange, a popular, award-winning page.
My big thanks to the continuing members of the Messenger editorial team, Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford and Jan Fischer Bachman. Together we have created space for writers and photographers to collectively tell the Brethren story.
Cheryl and Jan are being joined by Madalyn Metzger, interim executive director of Engagement and Communications, who is well qualified to be at the helm. I will leave the big plans to them, and see what not-so-big plans percolate for me.
Wendy McFadden recently retired from serving as publisher of Brethren Press and executive director of communications for the Church of the Brethren.