I remember when I graduated from High School. The Emancipation Proclamation had wet ink. Shakespeare was just starting his new hobby of writing. The day before I graduated something weird happened at some tower called Babel. It was a while ago.
Do you remember when you were at less than a quarter of your life span? What would graduates of yesterday tell graduates of today?
Here's a few that came to my mind:
1. Don't do camel spirituality.They can go long distances without water in dry places. Our spirits were designed to have regular deep drinks of the Bible and prayer. If you haven't developed good habits with God - start.
2. Avoid mellontophobia develop hamartophobia.Ok, to be honest, the first one isn't a real word… but it should be. It's made of the Greek words for "future" and "fear." Don't panic about your future, follow Christ into it. God will never expect more than that.The second word is made of the words for "sin" and "fear." A sin phobia would be good to develop. Culture has always tried to normalize what offends the holiness of God. If it ticks God off it would be best not to become comfortable with it.
3. Lift sex out of the sewer.God has a wonderful design for everything he created. The boundaries aren't because He wants to limit your joy; it's because he knows how to provide the greatest joy. There is nothing better than an exclusive, baggage free sex life with a person you're going to spend the rest of your life with in marriage. Don't cheapen sex.
4. Drive with the pedal on the floor.(Please note this is a metaphor not a driving tip)Apply yourself. Work hard at what you're doing. Give your roles your best.Student? Learn aggressively.Employee? Work as if each moment was a praise to God.Christian? Give God everything.Unfortunately culture trains you to find the line of "good-enough" and live just south of it. There are too many people who feel they are entitled for something without responsibility. Work hard and know when to rest.
5. Never swim with a bag of cement in your arms.That's not a metaphor. I think it's just good wisdom.
6. Celebrate the journey.You are facing what everyone older than you has already faced - growing up. You might have a cell phone with more computing ability than NASA had thirty years ago, but soon it will be worthless. Someday your kids will laugh at your music, clothes, and iPod. Humility and joy are closely related. Both of them travel well with you through life.
7. Note the power of this one.We are often looking at the moments that have passed with regret or longing. We spend a lot of energy looking at the moments we can't see yet trying to manipulate their content. Note the power of the moments you have right now. Include God in your moments now and He'll take care of the ones in the rear-view mirror and the ones beyond your vision.
What else could graduates of yesterday tell graduates of today?
Pastor Dave
1 comment:
This is probably one of my favorite posts.
I hope they all "get it" and understand what the old folks (certainly not you though PD) are trying to and have been trying to tell them.
Godspeed.
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