Last night I had the pleasure of witnessing two dear friends of mine graduate from high school. Across the world, other friends of mine are preparing to graduate. In a few months, I'll be walking across the stage at my own graduation.
It seems strange, bizarre, to think that I am now the people I used to look up at and marvel at how old they are.
I honestly don't know how to feel about that.
Do I feel joyful? Do I feel sad? Do I feel pain? Do I feel relief?
Why do I have to grow up?
More accurately, why do I have to grow up so quickly?
Growing up means saying hello.
Growing up means saying good-bye.
Growing up means laughing loudly.
Growing up means bawling my eyes out.
Growing up means new horizons.
Growing up means departing shores.
Growing up... how does one keep who they are in the midst of it all?
How do we not forget our dreams, but live them out?
How can I reach the end of my life, and not have any regrets?
I have only one answer.
Only one answer satisfies.
To keep who I am... I must keep my eyes on the One who made me.
To live my dreams... I must keep my eyes fixed on the One who made me a dreamer, and who satisfies every dream.
To not have any regrets... I must keep my eyes fixed on the One who gives me opportunities, so that I don't miss any.
I must live as a child of God.
Then I will grow up without tiring, because He will raise me up on wings as eagles.
Then I will live my dreams, because His plans are to prosper me.
Then I will not have any regrets, because His love will flow over me, and what is better than to love? To love with His love, the love that heals and nurtures all it comes in contact with.
And now I know, I know that I need not fear growing up. And I must shame our literary hero by disagreeing with his cry of "I'll never grow up!", saying instead "To grow up would be an awfully big adventure."
And I look forward to it, with God by my side.
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