Graduation...Let Go, Let God, and Let's Celebrate

    This month my life will be filled with a series of ceremonies and celebrations centered around people close to me participating in a major rite of passage in their life – graduation. I will watch students of various levels of schooling from pre-school to college as they gather in an auditorium, gymnasium, or on an athletic field of sorts to memorialize their respective levels of academic achievements. Some will be able to cite their A,B,C’s and count by 10's, while others will be equipped to present a dissertation on key aspects of their focused area of study. But regardless of the level of graduation, common persons will be in attendance. I like to call them the graduation trio. You'll have the proud and oftentimes emotional parents and family, the supporting friends, and, of course, the excited graduate. And each within this trio will be united under one stage in life - letting go.

    Now hopefully when I say the phrase “letting go” you are not immediately overwhelmed by a sense of sadness. Because I believe letting go in this regard is not a point of sadness, but a point of celebration. I believe this practical moment in life is a picture of a spiritual reality at work. The proud parents and family might look back with tear-filled eyes and remember the students first steps, first day of school and be reminded of how many firsts they overcame together. The supporting friend might look back and reminisce of all the memories they have made and be reminded of how many things they experienced together. And the graduate might look back and remember all they have accomplished and be reminded of the roles their parents, family and friends played along the way. But nevertheless, it's graduation time and it's time for the graduation trio to start letting go.

    The child once held in your arms or the friend once high-fiving you in the hall is now the graduate waving goodbye to the way things have been as they move on to their next adventure. And even though things may not be like they were in the past, it was that very past that prepared the parents, family, friends and graduate alike for this moment in time - this time of letting go.

    In view of the practical academic experience, it's easier letting the kindergartener go to first grade, the high schooler go to college, and the college student go into the "real world" when you know the past exams have prepared them with a new level of understanding to take on their next assignment. Likewise, in view of the emotional, and if I may, spiritual experience at play, the parent can let go of the child once held in their arms, the friend can let go of the friend once high-fiving them in the hall, and the graduate can let go of the days that once were when they all realize that God has been using their past as an education and preparation for a new level of understanding for their next adventure. 

    As I said before, letting go is a point of celebration. It’s a celebration of maturity to handle a new day. And in that maturity there is peace in letting go. However, letting go is just the beginning for the graduation trio. The second step is letting God. Just as scholastic understanding got them to today and will guide them to tomorrow, the practical and spiritual understanding developed in the life of the graduate through parents, family, friends and God has made them who they are today and has prepared them for who they are called to be tomorrow.

    Leading up to this moment God has showed himself faithful. His faithfulness was shown through the arms that once held the child. His faithfulness was shown through the friend who was always there through thick and through thin. His faithfulness was shown in the love and grace He surrounded the graduate with to bring them to this day. As we begin letting go and letting God we allow His past faithfulness to be the preparation for future promises. A friend of mine said it best when they spoke about sending their daughter off to college in saying, "There is a peace and celebration that comes in letting go when you are letting them go into the will of God." So to the graduation trio, let go, let God and let's celebrate!