This month is filled with graduation ceremonies. Students of all ages are graduating from preschool, high school, college, graduate school, or trade school. They have met all the requirements and have achieved their goals to get degrees, certificates or have become rated as a journeyman or master in their chosen trade.
Our precious preschoolers will go on to elementary school. For those graduating high school they will go on to the next leg in their journey. College grads will move into the 9 to 5 world of work. Whether it is a job or more schooling. Whatever their path, they are poised to move out into the world to a new school or find employment in their chosen fields. It is a threshold moment. They are concluding their current scholastic journey. What is next has not happened yet. Even for those who know what their next steps are, they have not taken those next steps. Not yet.
And for those who just don’t know what they are going to do, that is ok too. Sometimes we need time to figure out those next steps and that can take time. Sometimes we get derailed, and our life journey is interrupted. Maybe we made a life altering mistake. Maybe we meet the person of our dreams. Maybe…it is something else. But that doesn’t mean your life journey is over. Interruptions are just that…interruptions.
Mine was interrupted (not in a bad way) and yet I knew at some point, when the time came, I would go back to school. And I did. It was a lot harder but still, I got my business degree, then my MDiv, then was licensed as a local pastor in the Methodist denomination. I love what I do. I did not let the interruption stop my eventual dream of getting my education. And if you are curious, my “interrupted time” was spent raising four wonderful children.
Life happens. It is not unusual to read about people who in their 80’s and 90’s chose to go back to school to finish what they started or even just start what they always wanted to do before they were interrupted. It is never too late.
For all our 2024 graduates, I wish you all the wonders life has to offer. May life be kind to you. In fact, what I would share with you are the words to an amazing song by Rod Stewart – one of my all-time favorites!!! – titled “Forever Young.” It is the words I would like to say to every graduate as they launch out into the world down whatever path they choose to take…
May the good Lord be with ya down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you’re far from home
And may you grow to be proud, dignified, and true
And do unto others as you would have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you’ll always stay
Forever young, forever young
May good fortune be with you, may your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond And may you never love in vain
And in my heart you will remain
Forever young, forever young
And when you finally fly away I’ll be hopin’ that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime no one can ever tell
But whatever road you choose
I’m right behind you, win or lose
Forever young, forever young
Good luck to all the graduates! May God be with you every step of the way. And I would like to offer special best wishes to my granddaughter who is graduating from high school and to my niece who is graduating from Rollins College. Love you both!
And of course…I have included the link to the song for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
Peace,
Pastor Beth
Beth's Blog 