This week I had the privilege once again to be a part of ourHigh School graduation ceremony.It never fails to inspire me to see these young men and women poised andready to move on to God’s calling for the reminder of their lives.This is often a huge step in theirquest for independence. From this time forward their relationship with theirparents changes.It is animportant juncture where the past and the future separate in ways that otherthan when someone is getting married seldom occur in one’s life journey.If future plans include further study,more graduations are also possible but those are often more about launching acareer than experiencing separation from your roots.I do not want this to sound like a bad thing; it is a normalpart of the rhythm of life when young folks are ready to spread their wings andtry to solo just a bit more.Clearly the ties to friends and family from their schooling years remainconnected and important, but the boundaries extend a bit further and thefamiliar is not as apparent.Again,these are all good things that will test us as parents to trust even more inGod’s faithfulness, care, and strength and will test our children as theirfaith and world view are opened for others to examine and for them tostrengthen.So, is this thebeginning or the end?I think itis both, the beginning of many things and completion of many others.What a great night!It was a celebration of just how theseyoung men and women have prepared themselves for God’s service.

Three reflections from the graduation ceremony:

1. I was amazed once again at the confidence with which each of the students who spoke presented themselves and also with the articulate manner in which their ideas were expressed.I am very sure that when I was in high school I would not have been prepared or equipped to do what these young men and women did at their graduation.I believe this is the result of having an educational journey that requires our students to defend their thinking, to express themselves clearly, and to thoughtfully reflect about the impact that others have had on them and how they have impacted those around them.This was not just one person or one year.This has been the case with every student who has made a presentation at graduation in the past decade.What is more amazing is that I know that we had just 4 or 5 student speakers involved but we could have many more do the same thing just as well.As a matter of fact I am convinced the vast majority of our students could have shared their thoughts with a different story but the same impact.
2. The person selected by the class to give the commencement address was a local retired pastor, which says something already about these kids.Ren Broekhuizen has been one of the favorites as a chapel speaker at all of our schools for quite some time.His genuine passion for kids is so apparent that they will give him their full attention for as long as he wants it.They know Ren will always help them to learn something they did not know about themselves or about God and His Word.Tuesday night Ren challenged the class to be people of integrity, that their actions and words match, and that they are the same people when they are observed by others or are alone by themselves.Clearly that is a very important message today for young men and women who are ready to be more independent.The temptations are not going to let up; as a matter of fact, the more you proclaim yourself as Christ’s servant the greater the temptations will be over the coming years.The easiest route would be to not resist the general flow of the stream but that is seldom the best route for a follower of Jesus.
3. One phrase that Pastor Broekhuizen used that struck me as crucial for all of us.He said many people feel that the purpose of a Christian education is to learn how to fit Jesus into our lives.But he went on to say that that is a mistaken notion.The real purpose of a Christian education is to learn how to fit our lives into Jesus.I can think of no better description of what we at HC desire to do every day with every child.

So if you are wondering if we are actually achieving ourmission, just spend some time with a graduate and I think you will know that weare.If you are wondering ifChristian education is really worth the cost, the effort, and the sacrificejust come to an HC High School graduation ceremony and you will know that it isall worth it.I know I am alreadyexcited about starting another school year so that the Class of 2011 and theclasses following them will be ready to go make a difference in God’s name.