Graduation Day

     Graduation Day,  I can remember it like it was yesterday.  Well actually it was 29 years ago this month.  What a special day, how proud my parent were and how I was excited to finally be done with High School.  The only nightmare was, I got food poisoning that night and puked all the way to ROTC Basic Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky the next day.  What fond memories.

     My thoughts for today are directed towards the Roswell High School Seniors, who in 11 hours will be walking across the stage at the Wool Bowl receiving their diplomas.  (note: two of those Seniors are my own children and I am very proud of them!)  They will be going through a range of emotions: excitement, fear, nervousness, and even some will be bored (really?).  It will be a day that they never forget.

     The Seniors during their baccalaureate received some awesome inspiring words from three great speakers.  I was impressed at the fact that all three did it in a short amount of time.  No hour long speeches, short and sweet.  Although the words were encouraging, I felt something was left out, so here are my words of wisdom to the graduating class of 2011:

• The world you will enter into, is in total chaos.

     Wow, talk about words of encouragement!  Your walking out of the safety net of your family into a Mad Max movie (anyone remember those movies??).  Let's be honest here, there is a lot of stuff happening in the world today that doesn't make a lot of sense and effects us all in so many different ways.  Listen, yeah it's chaotic out here, but how you approach it is what matters.  You need to approach it knowing there is someone you can call.  No, no...not Ghostbusters.  In Psalm 86:7 it says "In the day of my trouble I will call on You, for you will answer me  ".  Sounds easy huh?  Well in reality it is.  With God on your side, what can't you face?  You just have to remember to put Him first in all you do.  God is your armor, so don't forget to put it on when facing the giants in the world.

• The mess our generation has made, you will have to fix.

     Unfortunately, my generation has not done a very good job at cleaning up our messes.  In fact, we seem to be making more messes.  So if you want a decent world to live in, it's time to step up.  1 Peter 4:10 it says "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to server others faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms  ".  You all have been given gifts that God wants you to use to better mankind.  Don't waste them frivolously, use them to fix the mess and make the world a better place to live in.

     Bummed out now?  I hope not.  I hope that my words have given you a reality check and given you the ambition to move forward in life with a purpose.  There's that word...Purpose.  Did you listen to your baccalaureate speakers?  Each of them used this word several times.  It means that you need to be focused on what impact you plan on making in the world.  Will you do it God's way, or will you do it your way?  I hope that you do it God's way because man...we need it His way.  When we do it our way, we just mess everything up.

     
     Another chapter written and a new one beginning.  We are proud of you; parents, family, friends, teachers and bosses.  There's a big world out there to conquer, but I know with Coyote blood running through your veins, you will achieve the goals you have set and make a mark in the world.  Congratulations Class of 2011.... you did it.

Chappy