Where will you ‘pitch your tent?’

The tradition of modern commencement addresses usually begins with “Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.” To the senior a chapter in your life comes to a close. At graduation you receive your diploma and you will walk through one of the gates in life. On the other side you will have new friends, new relations, and your world will be different. It is a world unlike what your parents entered when they left school. It is a world with which most adults cannot identify or associate.

As you look back over your shoulder, your memory will be filled with many pictures. You have seen the adults in your life in times of greatness and despair, you have witnessed these same adults in times of strength and weaknesses, but in all of these situations there is a beauty. Beauty that comes when the very best for you was sought.

As you look forward you will see a new freedom—-more than just freedom from school and your parents. It is time to cut those ‘strings’ of dependence and become independent. On this side of the gate, you must set your own morals, build your own sense of responsibility, decide for yourself when to be compassionate, faithful, loyal and yes, when to love.

On this side of the new gate you will be bombarded with an array of options, situations, friends and activities and you will be held accountable for your actions.   The culture and the lure of the ‘good life’ will come at you as never before.  Where you ‘pitch’ your tent is extremely important.  Make this your motto, “it is never wrong to do what is right.”

From this point forward you will not be accountable to bells, teachers, academic deans, or principals. Your accountability now lies with your Heavenly Father who loves you far greater than anyone.

Congratulations and may God’s richest blessings be yours.