KC Wolf, the mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs, challenged Missouri lawmakers and government leaders to put a greater focus on relationship-building this session.
"One of the big lessons (God) taught me -- and this is something my mom tried to tell me back in high school but I didn't think she was that smart at the time -- but mom used to always say the most important things in life aren't things," said Dan Meers, the man in the wolf suit for the past 33 years and the first NFL mascot inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. "The most important things in life are relationships. And come to find out, mom's a smart gal."
Meers addressed a crowd of more than 600 on Thursday morning at the Governor's Prayer Breakfast at Capitol Plaza Hotel. The annual event gathers statewide elected officials, legislators, judges, cabinet members and other government officials together to hear a spiritual message as the legislative session gets under way.
After Blair Oaks fifth-grader Mia Smith belted out the national anthem and the Jefferson City High School Chorale provided live music during breakfast, a few state senators took turns reading Bible scripture from the books of Matthew and Ezra.
"On solid ground we stand," was the event's theme this year.
Gov. Mike Parson said the scripture readings emphasized the importance of having a solid foundation, which he said can only be created through faith.
The passages made him think of the Capitol, which he said was built on solid ground as evidenced by references to God, the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence.
"You know what our job is every day when we go over there ... it's to make sure we don't turn into sinking sand," the governor said.
"Sometimes when we think the boat's getting a little rocky over there, sometimes we just need to take a step back and realize maybe we aren't in charge," he continued. "Be thoughtful of what we do and make sure at the end of the day, somebody is going to calm the waters. Somebody is the higher authority than we are to make things better. We just probably need to be better listeners sometimes."
Parson said he relies on his faith daily and that he couldn't lead the state without it.
Meers, who previously donned the suits of the Cardinals Fredbird and University of Missouri's Truman the Tiger, said he relies on his faith daily to live with pain and be grateful for it.
Meers shared a story of a stunt accident that brought him closer to God and the other relationships in his life.
In 2013, he was practicing a bungee stunt in which KC Wolf dropped down 20 feet from the top stadium lights and ziplined across Arrowhead Stadium. He instead fell 75 feet and crashed into the upper level seating of the stadium, knocking two seats in section 324 out of the concrete holding them in place. The bungee cord then lifted him back up and he was carried across the field struggling to breathe and his body "just trembling."
The accident left Meers with seven broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a shattered tailbone and broken vertebrae.
Spending nine days in the hospital after the near-death experience, Meers said he began reflecting on his life and what he was doing with it.
He came to the conclusion that the injuries were God's plan and they were intended to teach him a lesson.
"What helped me get through nine days in the hospital and six months of very painful therapy and rehab just day after day after day? Three things: my faith, my family and my friends," he said. "And listen, all three of those are relationships."
He said he wouldn't trade the experience because it took his faith to a new level. He eventually began to thank God for the pain because it means he isn't dead or paralyzed.
"It's OK if I still have pain in my rear, it's not OK for me to be a pain in your rear," he joked. "I bet you've got a few pains in your rear in this line of work, right? Don't look at each other right now."
Meers urged the audience to "make relationships a priority" because they help weather life's storms and brighten the world. On good days and bad ones, he said it's his relationships with his faith, friends and family that give his life meaning and purpose.
"Never forget this piece of mascot wisdom: It's the banana that gets separated from the bunch that's the first one that gets eaten," he said. "Don't think too hard about that. That just means life's a team sport, and we need each other, OK?"
Julie Smith/News Tribune Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson join guests on the dais and attendees to the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast with hand over heart as Mia Smith sings the National Anthem. The room filled with applause upon completion of the song as performed by the Blair Oaks fifth grade student.
Julie Smith/News Tribune First lady Teresa Parson looks on and smiles as Mia Smith receives a hug from Gov. Mike Parson Thursday following her singing of the National Anthem at the Governor's Prayer Breakfast at Capitol Plaza Hotel. Smith is a fifth grade student at Blair Oaks Middle School.
Julie Smith/News Tribune. Attendees to Thursday's annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast bow their head as Pastor Scott Watson delivers the invocation.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Members of the Jefferson City High School Chorale provided special music while food was served Thursday at the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast at Capitol Plaza Hotel.
Juile Smith/News Tribune Pastor Scott Watson of River Bluff Fellowship delivers the invocation Thursday during the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast at Capitol Plaza Hotel. Standing on the dais in background is Gov. Mike Parson, Teresa Parson and Dan and Cam Meers.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Branden Rathert of Wake-Up Columbia and Wake-Up Mid Missouri presided over the 2023 Governor's Prayer Breakfast.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Dan Meers tilts back his head in laughter as Gov. Mike Parson took to the podium to introduce Meers, Thursday's featured speaker at the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast at Capitol Plaza Hotel. In his professional life, Meers is the mascot K.C. Wolf for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Joy, laughter and tears were shown Thursday as featured speaker Dan Meers talked about life experiences and what it means to him to be able to be the team mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs, KC Wolf. One of those experiences Meers relayed was a accident that occurred on Nov. 23, 2013, when he fell into the seats while rehearsing to make a big entrance on a zipline. Seated at right are Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson, both of whom reacted several times to comments made by the speaker.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Shown is an x-ray of the screws and plates in the neck of Dan Meers, who suffered multiple injuries while rehearsing to make an entrance on a zipline in Nov. 2013.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Saying that "life is like a coin, spend it wisely", Dan Meers holds up a coin to lend credence to the statement. Joy, laughter and tears were shown Thursday as Meers, the event's featured speaker, talked about life experiences and what it means to him to be able to be the team mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs, KC Wolf. One of those experiences Meers relayed was a accident that occurred on Nov. 23, 2013, when he fell into the seats while rehearsing to make a big entrance on a zipline. He hit so hard that two seats were knocked loose from their bolted mooring. He broke seven ribs, his tailbone and had fractures in his neck. He projected a photograph of an x-ray of his neck which shows the hardware used to stabilize his neck.
Julie Smith/News Tribune. Dan Meers, Thursday's featured speaker at the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast, teared up as he spoke about surviving an accident at his job, which is being KC Wolf, the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs.