Attending two graduation services this weekend, I heard a total of nine speeches, one a short sermon delivered by our church pastor, another the above quote with a few words added given by the principle of a huge school in Lexington, four individual from the salutatorian and the valedictorian of each class, and three from just students of that larger assembly. I thought the last a “nice touch”, that triad simply elected to such honor by their classmates. In particular, one of the latter invaded my mind enough with what he shared so as to still have me chewing on it this morning. It could be no more than an old man reminiscing, his pointing to the future as being yet unknown, their only possession being this moment with an opportunity to give it their best shot, finding me nodding in agreement and wondering, indeed, what tomorrow held for this large enthusiastic group seated before me robed and tasseled. Merely fifteen received their diplomas the night before. Over four hundred on this occasion were about to go forward for diplomas. The number alone, I suppose, set me contemplating how many of them would actually achieve their dreams, how many of them even entertained dreams, how many of them had any kind of relation at all with Christ. This, then, was the message taken to the Detention Center this morning, with a stress on the need for, not just an initial point of contact, but also a continued return to that location. If nothing else in this life comes with a guarantee, in this one thing we can anchor our soul: whatever tomorrow holds, He remains, an assurance in the depths of our existence, a tangible, knowable Reality in whom we can put our trust regardless of our faults and failures as we go. While no certificates of achievement were awarded in our meeting, we left knowing that the real teacher, the Holy Ghost was still conducting class even after our departure.
Amen, Jim!
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