Thursday, May 26, 2011

A New Beginning

Last Sunday evening we celebrated our Senior Blessing Service. It is a time of celebration and fulfillment as we see our young people, whom we have labored to bring up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”, cross the threshold into adulthood. Over the years it has been a joy for me to see so many of our youth go out and live rich, full lives serving the Lord!

For some reason, it seems difficult for most people to consider graduation as a new beginning. It just seems more natural to associate it with the end of what is certainly a significant chapter in life. Perhaps this is because for most, this next phase of their life will require them to assume more responsibility; it means it’s time to grow up and begin to stand on your own. The Apostle Paul phrased it this way:” When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things”. This is a daunting proposition, which no doubt can be somewhat intimidating to accept.
But, the odd thing is, graduation is often referred to as a “Commencement Ceremony”, and the very definition of commencement is “to begin”, to “start anew”! Rather than viewing this as the ending of one chapter, it should be seen as the beginning of a new and exciting time of life! It is a time to grow, mature and develop the necessary character which will provide the foundation to prosper and successfully fulfill God’s will for your life. What could be more exciting than that!

As our seniors graduate, it may be a time for all of us to reflect and take stock of our own lives. Each of us can recognize past events which signified a commencement or a new beginning in our own experiences. Possibly the Lord is prodding us to “commence” in a new direction in our own spiritual paths? Perhaps we should not only watch our seniors graduate, but perhaps it is time for us to graduate as well!! It may be time to turn the page and move on to a new and greater chapter of life.
I love and appreciate you folks!
Don’t forget Sunday morning’s lesson from Genesis, and Sunday evening we’ll continue our study in Revelation titled “What in the world is going on in our world?”
See you Sunday!
Pastor

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