Graduating Time!

It’s that time of the year when millions of students who have worked tirelessly for months on end, had many sleepless nights, passed many exams, and satisfied the requirements of the education system, are recognized as graduates. Pomp and circumstance is the song commonly used at graduations. From K-12 and mostly in college, you get to celebrate, enjoy, and revel in the joy of accomplishment. It is a glimpse of future success and a marked point in a person’s life. It is right to pause and reflect. It is right to celebrate. Congrats to all grads!

I first graduated from a community college then I proceeded to graduate from a four year college. I enjoyed and celebrated both of those accomplishments with vigor and fervor. My graduation from NC State University also coincided with my birthday and so the celebration was big. I was done, finito! Or so I thought….

The biggest thought on my mind was how I was going to relax and rest…then figure out what I wanted to do. It wasn’t long before the hoopla wore off and reality set in. What does it mean? Was this the height of my educational journey? Was I done with school? I wanted to be. Was I going to ever pursue more education for any reason whatsoever? I didn’t know and I didn’t want to think about it. All I knew was what was in front of me…freedom on the back of success. I was going to devote the next few months to continue mentoring, discipling, and teaching. I was also going to continue doing more of what I felt was the most rewarding work of my life.

Reflecting on the future was not a painstaking process for me. I believed and trusted in God to provide. I was ‘seeking first the Kingdom, and His righteousness’ and he was faithfully adding ‘all these things’ to me. He first added a girlfriend, who was to become my wife almost exactly 2 years later. He then added children out of our union – we’re at 3 right now and done! Yep! He then added countless other things, including new spiritual sons and daughters who I hope and pray will grow into mothers and fathers to their own spiritual sons and daughters.

Do I need more graduations? Maybe. I am currently pursuing a degree that should culminate in another graduation. I may still get more after that. I have an interesting fascination with colleges and universities and I believe God has called me to have some major influence in that arena. God has called us to teach sound doctrine, not to leave people in ignorance and whatever role we can play in this area contributes to the knowledge of the greatness of God overall. I currently teach and train on a corporate level and hope to continue to do so for a while to come. While I don’t preach the gospel on a daily basis, I believe that my life, lived out righteously, reflects the glory of God daily.

I believed and trusted in God to provide. I was ‘seeking first the Kingdom, and His righteousness’ and he was faithfully adding ‘all these things’ to me.

Graduations are fascinating and exciting moments but the one I look forward to the most is my graduation into Heaven. I know I have work to do here on earth and it maybe a while, but that one final graduation will be glorious! I will need no research papers turned in, no excellent grades, no perfect scores on anything. All I need is an acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior and a daily devotion to being more like Him…and certainly the cap and gown I receive I will gladly lay back at His feet. He’s worthy of it all. Oh, how I look forward to that moment. The ultimate and final graduation!

Heaven is my home and earth is only my temporary playground.