Graduation 09

I don't often attend graduation services anymore but I did go last night because I wanted to hear the guest speaker - class 78 and a member of my church. It was a typical graduation experience with the appropriate speeches, cheering parents and boisterous graduates. As I took it all in a theme began to develop in my mind - suffering. The valedictorian spoke of her mother whom she lost to Lou Gehrig disease a year ago. There was a young man who received his diploma in a wheel chair - he is a paraplegic. One of the more popular students lost all he had as his house burned a couple of months back. The guest speaker is battling cancer that has returned. Her oxygen bottle was by her side. I'm guessing that there are other stories I don't know about.

The young lady who spoke told about her dream to return someday and speak at her school. She wanted to arrive in a helicopter, be whisked to the platform , share her thoughts and then rush back to the chopper to leave because she had somewhere else to go - because she was a rich, famous and important person. We all laughed when she said at least part of that dream had been realized but that she arrived in a Toyota.

She went on to say that dreams often change or don't work out quite like we hope and that one of the tasks of life is to learn to deal with the change. She added that one of the most important things they would need was resiliency. As I listened I reflected that her life backed up her words for she is one of the most resilient people I know. I was hoping that the young adults wearing their caps and gowns were listening - listening like Jesus said "he who has ears to hear, let him hear".

As I left the stadium I wished for them the same kind of courage and resiliency Kim has. If they find it, then no matter what they do or what life hands them they will truly be successful.

Spell Czechoslovakia

There's a joke about a man who dies and goes to heaven. So happens his former wife is watching the gate. To get in you have to spell a word. Most people are getting words like love and faith. The husband arrives and begins to tell his first wife how great life has been since she passed on what with all the life insurance money and his new younger wife and their trips and all. When he asks for his word he gets - well you know the ending.

I watched the National Spelling Bee on ABC last night. Wow those kids are sharp! Czech. would be easy compared to some of those words I heard them spell. I'm glad I have a spell check on my laptop. I commend ABC for making a rather dreary experience very entertaining. I felt for the kids when they missed a word and was happy for the young lady who won. $40,000 worth of prizes is nothing to take lightly. 11 million kids started out to win and it came down to the final three with one the winner. Amazing!

What I kept hearing from the shows hosts was how hard these kids had to work to compete at this level. It takes dedication to be a winner whether its sports, politics, or spelling. These kids were doing it for money that will soon be used up. I wondered why more of us as followers of Jesus aren't more dedicated since we work for that which is eternal. Imagine if we put the effort into learning the Bible, praying, setting up opportunities to share the gospel with the lost around us, coming with hearts alive and prepared for worship... Being a believer these days is not easy, our adversary is shrewd, the world is often hostile. I think we need to read again and take to heart the apostle Paul's words in 1Cor.9: 24-27. After all no one likes to be disqualified for the prize.

A Graveside Conversation

I stood at a graveside this week and watched a family say goodbye to a loved one. It wasn't a sad moment for she had lived a good, long life and was much loved. As I listened to the pastor speak I reflected on all my death experiences and wondered at this great mystery.

There are some who claim to be able to transcend the great barrier of death and speak to those who have left our presence. Others have given testimony to their experience of crossing over into that mysterious land only to return and tell us about it. Somehow I have never quite been able to accept their stories of the life beyond as genuine.

But while I stood at the graveside I talked with one who has died and returned to tell about it. His story rings true and I find myself able trust Him. He hasn't offered to answer all my questions about death or what lies beyond but He has told me enough - enough to remove my fears and fill my heart with expectation and hope.

As I quietly spoke with Him by that grave He reminded me that I can look forward to being in His Father's spacious house where there is a place for me and my troubled heart was quieted. He also whispered to me that to be absent from the body is to be present with Him who will remove all mourning, or crying, or pain. Finally He said that my expectations of things beyond this life cannot begin to come close to the reality - for no eye has seen...no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.

I left that graveside praying for the family in their season of grief, comforted in my heart as I anticipated my own time of death, and grateful for the gift of Life.

I love you Jesus - Thanks!