Commencement

They’re graduating.
All those Seniors.

The ones that grew up together.
The ones that gathered at the grave of a 17 year old.

Their friend.

They’re moving on.
Commencement.
Some to careers.
Some to more schooling.

But they’re moving on.

And our son is not.
His life; gone.
In a moment.

This time, a reminder of that ceasing.
I feel the pull of the despair.
I sense the ache below the surface.

Yet.
The Facebook posts of gatherings and graduations also spark deep love.

An excitement for these young people.

We raise our children with the hope that they will become successful adults.
Contributors to this beautiful world.
Rooted in the knowledge and grace of God.

Good stewards of all they come in contact with.

Life can be hard.
The hectic pull of the daily distracting and disturbing.
It is easy to fall prey to the emotion of despair.
It is easy to step into complaining and whining.

I find this path  self deprecating.
Sort of despair begats despair.

I am reaching for the joy.
The celebration of these young people.
Their future before them.
Life.
Celebration.
Commencement.
The beginning.
A time to make a difference in this world.

Seek,  each day, to bring a little joy into your sphere.

Psalm 71:19-23
Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. 
You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. 
I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. 
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you– I whom you have delivered.