“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.� Philippians 3:12

It was one of those red letter milestone days, the ones you remember forever. Our youngest received his Juris Doctor degree. I am not sure our family is big enough to handle three “Dr. Grants,� but here we are. Any day when your child graduates is a big day but this one (not unlike the last one) was really special.

Since I had also received the same degree from the same school in the same courtyard, I got to present the diploma. After donning my cap and gown, as we processed in, thoughts came through my head of all that God has blessed me with since I made the same walk forty one years ago.

Then came the big moment……… When his name was called, the Dean handed me the diploma and I in turn presented it to our graduate, but not before giving him a bear hug and whispering in his ear… “Congratulations Dr. Grant, I love you!�

For Jamie and all the other graduates, it marked the conclusion of years of study, but also the beginning of a new chapter of life. That’s why they call it a “commencement,� rather than a “conclusion.� It is a mile marker in life, one that should never be a conclusion of learning new things and meeting new challenges. Life is a journey and like most journeys, it is filled with roadblocks and speed bumps, joys and sorrows and dreams and nightmares.

The important thing is that we never give up growing, learning and most important of all serving others. In Philippians, Paul tells of “pressing on,� and we too should live a life of always reaching for new goals, learning new things and reaching new heights.

Most important of all is that we should use every ounce of every talent that God has given us for this journey of life. As the great humorist Erma Bombeck said: “When I stand before God t the end of my live, I would hope that I would not have single bit of talent left, and could say I used everything you gave me.�

My prayer and life’s ambition is that I will never stop learning and that my tombstone will be my ultimate diploma.
  (a though on life from John Grant )

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