Tis the
season…
College
graduates strolled, loped, skipped and bounded across stages a few weeks ago to
receive their degrees. Now it’s the high
school seniors’ turn.
Moms, dads,
grandparents, siblings and an assortment of relatives and friends will swelter
in the almost-summer heat, waiting to hear a single name called.
(Before I continue with serious contemplation
of commencements allow me to wander into my usual off-kilter territory. If graduation ceremonies are meant to be
celebratory occasions why do the folks who put them together go to such lengths
to make them a challenge worthy of a reality show? If the ceremony is held outside chances are
you’re fighting off dehydration by the time the festivities begin, and by
festivities I mean speeches and introductions.
“Let’s welcome Dr. Jabberwocky and the
Council of Educated Guys and Gals, blah, blah, blah. Now I’m pleased to present our speaker, Dr.
William Somberdrone.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Chatter. When I graduated from the University of
Giveusyourmoney 35 years ago I learned blah, blah, blah. So then I started Technocorp, blah, blah,
blah.”
The cruelest trick is when you think the
hurting is about to stop only to hear, “Furthermore…” You learn that the sweetest two words in the
English language are “In conclusion.” )
We celebrate
graduating from high school and college as significant milestones in our
culture. A high school diploma opens the
door to vocational training, military service, or college. The choices available in a university render the
outcome far from certain: a bachelor’s degree might lead to fulfilling
employment or a return to the job you had in high school. Either way, young people quickly learn that
this grown-up thing involves accepting the consequences of your choices and
moving forward. (At least they should; that’s a topic for another day.)
My hometown
newspaper prints profiles of a handful of seniors from each local high school
in the days leading up to graduation.
One student per school receives $10,000 from the newspaper’s publisher,
to be used however he or she wishes.
As I read
the mini-biographies I’m struck by how much these young men and women have
accomplished in their 17 to 18 years: GPA’s in the stratosphere, athletic
prowess, community service. The first
honoree was announced today: He excels in three sports and is ranked in the top
10 in his graduating class.
I was
excited when I checked my grocery store receipt today and learned I had saved $7.00
with coupons.
I’ve
listened to the blah, blah, blah and watched our sons cross university stages
three times. With each ceremony the word
“commencement” has tolled in my brain, ringing with power and hope. Coexisting with my maternal pride is this
question: Are my commencements, my
beginnings, behind me?
I certainly
hope not.
Back in
April I wrote “All Things New” about letting God “remake” me as He wishes. Are you detecting a theme here? Maybe it’s the awakening of spring or the
approach of another birthday, but I find myself thinking with greater frequency
about beginnings. I keep hearing the
words of Brooks from the movie The Shawshank Redemption: “Get busy living or get busy dying.”
Are you
interested in a commencement of your own?
Let me know what’s new with you.
