Graduation

Today was the last day of school for my son. The lad is now officially a second grader. Corran's transition got me to thinking about other (perhaps, more substantial) graduations that are going on this time of year. It reminds me of a sermon I preached some time ago. There is a myth that I have heard spoken at almost every commencement ceremony that I attended during my many years of youth ministry. Invariably, some well-meaning student would stand up to speak and share about the wonderful time that they had in high school. Then they would say something to the effect, “when we look back, we will realize that these were be the best years of our lives.”
Well, I want to say that that is absolute rubbish. It is rubbish because it ignores two very important realities. First, it ignores the reality that, for many, joyful participation and inclusion into extracurricular activities did not characterize their school experience. Instead, many experienced school as a source of alienation and deepening despair simply because they were different in some way from the expected norm. However, the second reality that this pronouncement ignores is the reality of God’s constant presence in our lives, and God’s constant call on our hearts. It ignores the fact that while you some may experience a degree of freedom from responsibility as young people, what no one ever tells you is that the responsibilities of adulthood come with freedoms all their own. The best is not behind - it is ahead. It is always ahead. Because that is God's way.