Graduate in Christ
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hiddden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Attending a high school graduation ceremony is an emotional experience and a time for reflection. The hand of the goodness of God readily apparent in the joy and hope of the youthful faces as they walk onto the stage to accept their well-earned diplomas. Their efforts have brought forth good fruit. They have suceeded. The support and encouragement of teachers, parents, grand-parents, and many others finally reaching a glorious epiphany.
The opening of the ceremony captivates the audience as the high school band plays the Star Spangled banner. The song is difficult for anyone to sing yet the young performing student somehow delivers a fairly good solo as the guests stand at attention with their right hand covering their heart. At that moment everyone is tearfully proud to be an American. All the pain of injustice is laid aside to affirm once again that the flag still waves as a great symbol of our bravery and freedom.
The speaker reminds the graduating class that they cannot discover new oceans unless they have courage to lose sight of the shore as they conclude their high school adventure and venture forth to begin the next phase of their lives. The highest achievers accept their bright colored ribbons and shiny medals. It staggers the imagination to think about how anyone, let alone a high school student, could ever achieve a 4.50 grade point average. A few vignettes describe the journey just taken--no Johnny shouldn't have put a metal pin into the electric wall sockett when he was in the men's bathroom--whatever was he thinking! Perhaps Susie shouldn't have stayed up so late the night before finals. A story is told with a poignant message--"A little boy is standing at the side of the road trying to get passing cars to stop but cars keep passing him by. Finally, he picks up a brick and throws the brick at a passing new black Jag. The brick damages the left fender and the irrate driver stops his car and yells at the boy asking him why he would do such a thing. The young tearful boy tells the angry man that he didn't want to throw the brick but it was the only thing he could think of to do to get someone to stop and help him. The young boy explained that his older brother fell out of his wheelchair and was injured and he needed help getting his brother back into his chair. The man quickly forgot his anger and he rushed to assist the young boy with getting the scrapped and battered older brother back into his wheelchair. The man decides not to fix the damage to his new black Jag so he can have a constant reminder that when he gets busy with his own life he should slow down and not forget to help others." The students are duly warned that they too should slow down to help others as they pursue their life dreams so someone doesn't have to throw a brick at them to get their attention. The ceremony draws to a close as the class in unison throw their black graduation caps high above them. The guests make the long climb down the bleachers to find their young adult in a sea of so many. Hugs are exchanged on the green lawn, congratulations given, pictures with family and friends are taken, gifts are bestowed. Never has the student looked so grown up. Never have the parents looked so stressed and weary yet so relieved. The student rushes off to join the class for an evening of fun and parties. The graduating class of 2009 celebrates safely within the parameters of Safe and Sober.
The graduating young adults who were raised up in Christ will go on to soar spiritually as well as academically and professionally. They will go on to become great thinkers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, ministers, musicians, and helpers in all walks of life. They will go on to live meaningful lives with family and friends continuing to guide and support them. They will fall down occasionally but they will pick themselves up and dust themselves off and continue on because they know that Jesus is always with them. They will go on to shine for all of eternity. Many of the unbelievers may also go on to become successful in their chosen fields. They may even live meaningful personal lives. They will shine for a time but sadly their light will be gone forever when they leave this world behind.
A high school graduation ceremony tells only part of the story. We see only the academic successes. But what of the failures? What happened to the drop outs? We don't like to think about those young adults who were not present. Those who entered high school with the rest of the class but who got lost along the way. Those who quit school to care for an ill parent. Those who got pregnant and decided to hide away. Those who were spending time in juvie for making a bad mistake. And those who failed to apply themselves and persevere in their studies because they were too busy having a good time.
A life without Christ tells only part of the story. It speaks only to the successes and failures of this world. It is the icing without the cake. It does not endure. Like a graduation ceremony it is over as quickly as it begun. Parents must take the time to raise their children up in Christ. Parents must be a shining light for their children. Parents must glorify God in all that they do. Parents must not fail to teach their children the most important lesson, the lesson of love. Parents must make time to give their students the enduring love of God so their students can see their good works and go on to shine God's light for others. We must all learn the most important lesson of love as we drive our Jags and jalopies down life's road. We must all learn to slow down to help those who need our help, regardless of the reason, so we don't get hit by a brick by someone who desparately needs our attention. We must all learn that true bravery and freedom is only to be found in the love of Christ as we lose sight of the world's shore and discover the ocean of God's enduring love. We must all learn to bow down on our knees before we can graduate in Christ. God Bless Always, Sharen
Attending a high school graduation ceremony is an emotional experience and a time for reflection. The hand of the goodness of God readily apparent in the joy and hope of the youthful faces as they walk onto the stage to accept their well-earned diplomas. Their efforts have brought forth good fruit. They have suceeded. The support and encouragement of teachers, parents, grand-parents, and many others finally reaching a glorious epiphany.
The opening of the ceremony captivates the audience as the high school band plays the Star Spangled banner. The song is difficult for anyone to sing yet the young performing student somehow delivers a fairly good solo as the guests stand at attention with their right hand covering their heart. At that moment everyone is tearfully proud to be an American. All the pain of injustice is laid aside to affirm once again that the flag still waves as a great symbol of our bravery and freedom.
The speaker reminds the graduating class that they cannot discover new oceans unless they have courage to lose sight of the shore as they conclude their high school adventure and venture forth to begin the next phase of their lives. The highest achievers accept their bright colored ribbons and shiny medals. It staggers the imagination to think about how anyone, let alone a high school student, could ever achieve a 4.50 grade point average. A few vignettes describe the journey just taken--no Johnny shouldn't have put a metal pin into the electric wall sockett when he was in the men's bathroom--whatever was he thinking! Perhaps Susie shouldn't have stayed up so late the night before finals. A story is told with a poignant message--"A little boy is standing at the side of the road trying to get passing cars to stop but cars keep passing him by. Finally, he picks up a brick and throws the brick at a passing new black Jag. The brick damages the left fender and the irrate driver stops his car and yells at the boy asking him why he would do such a thing. The young tearful boy tells the angry man that he didn't want to throw the brick but it was the only thing he could think of to do to get someone to stop and help him. The young boy explained that his older brother fell out of his wheelchair and was injured and he needed help getting his brother back into his chair. The man quickly forgot his anger and he rushed to assist the young boy with getting the scrapped and battered older brother back into his wheelchair. The man decides not to fix the damage to his new black Jag so he can have a constant reminder that when he gets busy with his own life he should slow down and not forget to help others." The students are duly warned that they too should slow down to help others as they pursue their life dreams so someone doesn't have to throw a brick at them to get their attention. The ceremony draws to a close as the class in unison throw their black graduation caps high above them. The guests make the long climb down the bleachers to find their young adult in a sea of so many. Hugs are exchanged on the green lawn, congratulations given, pictures with family and friends are taken, gifts are bestowed. Never has the student looked so grown up. Never have the parents looked so stressed and weary yet so relieved. The student rushes off to join the class for an evening of fun and parties. The graduating class of 2009 celebrates safely within the parameters of Safe and Sober.
The graduating young adults who were raised up in Christ will go on to soar spiritually as well as academically and professionally. They will go on to become great thinkers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, ministers, musicians, and helpers in all walks of life. They will go on to live meaningful lives with family and friends continuing to guide and support them. They will fall down occasionally but they will pick themselves up and dust themselves off and continue on because they know that Jesus is always with them. They will go on to shine for all of eternity. Many of the unbelievers may also go on to become successful in their chosen fields. They may even live meaningful personal lives. They will shine for a time but sadly their light will be gone forever when they leave this world behind.
A high school graduation ceremony tells only part of the story. We see only the academic successes. But what of the failures? What happened to the drop outs? We don't like to think about those young adults who were not present. Those who entered high school with the rest of the class but who got lost along the way. Those who quit school to care for an ill parent. Those who got pregnant and decided to hide away. Those who were spending time in juvie for making a bad mistake. And those who failed to apply themselves and persevere in their studies because they were too busy having a good time.
A life without Christ tells only part of the story. It speaks only to the successes and failures of this world. It is the icing without the cake. It does not endure. Like a graduation ceremony it is over as quickly as it begun. Parents must take the time to raise their children up in Christ. Parents must be a shining light for their children. Parents must glorify God in all that they do. Parents must not fail to teach their children the most important lesson, the lesson of love. Parents must make time to give their students the enduring love of God so their students can see their good works and go on to shine God's light for others. We must all learn the most important lesson of love as we drive our Jags and jalopies down life's road. We must all learn to slow down to help those who need our help, regardless of the reason, so we don't get hit by a brick by someone who desparately needs our attention. We must all learn that true bravery and freedom is only to be found in the love of Christ as we lose sight of the world's shore and discover the ocean of God's enduring love. We must all learn to bow down on our knees before we can graduate in Christ. God Bless Always, Sharen
© 2010 Created by yousef
