This past Friday was my graduation and doctoral hooding ceremony at United Theological Seminary. No words are sufficient to express my joy and overwhelming sense that I witnessed greatness in my fellow graduates. At some points it felt somewhat surreal. I have had the honor to journey through my seminary experience with divinely appointed fellow travelers—friends forever.
Musings about the meaning of our graduation raced through my head throughout the day’s events. Some may see it as a final hurrah. I’m more inclined to have a NASA perspective—it’s a launching pad to parts unknown. It’s a declaration that some preparation on a proving ground has taken place that verifies your equipping to move to the next big thing. It allows you to speak with some authority in the field of endeavor, but certainly not that you have “arrived” and know everything there is to know. You find out that you will never stop learning and the way you will learn has been changed, refined, informed.
For myself, I can say without revocation that my knowledge base on biblical studies and theology has been enormously broadened through much study and research. I also am quick to note that great minds have spent a lifetime of study revealing a reserve of understanding that is most humbling—some of whom, I might add, never even set foot in a seminary. I don’t want to devalue any of my accomplishments, but at the same time, I know deep in my “knower” that much more lies ahead to be discovered. The wonder of God is endless.
Here are some of my big “take-aways”:
- I have met the most amazing people in my cohort—world changers. They have struggled with me on our journey together, laughed with me, prayed with me, and inspired me. I am eternally grateful for each one of them.
- I have had the privilege of amazing discussions with brilliant professors who have devoted their lives to help students deepen their love of God and understanding of His book. I hope they continue.
- My search and re-search skills have escalated to greater proportions. So much information is now available with new technologies that would have been hidden or extremely difficult to access in times past. Cut, paste, delete, click and move, insert, footnote, and format, just to name a few functions on my computer have been invaluable, especially when I conjure up memories of my pre-World War II Remington manual typewriter that was my technology for my bachelor and master degrees (seems like the Dark Ages).
- My research, having as its theme the power of touch in impartation, was a good choice for me. It allowed me to noodle around in new territory. Going an inch wide and a mile deep has both trials and rewards along the way, but the satisfaction when your writing is finished, printed, and sent is pretty awesome.
- My greatest take-away, however, is experiencing the faithfulness of Holy Spirit. (I don’t say “the” because Holy Spirit is person, not a thing.) Time and again, when I was stuck I was inspired to press through to new revelations, new insights, and expressiveness, by none other than the voice of God, sometimes still and small, other times loud and assertive. The vision for my life and work has expanded to proportions that, for me, are epic.
At the beginning and oftentimes during the past three years, I asked myself, “At your age and with retiree resources, what on earth were you thinking to sign up for this package?” I don’t doubt that others had similar thoughts. Why have we subjected ourselves to this level of intensity? I can only say for myself, that it was in obedience to the call of God. This rare opportunity of study presented itself to me rather miraculously and I knew it was right out of the throne room of heaven. I’ve asked, “Why me?” and was answered, “Why not you?” So I have to believe that it was for God’s purposes that are revealed as life proceeds day by day. Life with God is far from boring. It’s simply the walk of faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
My encouragement to my readers is that God has plans and purposes for each person. It is unique to each of us and so, also requires each of us to commune with God for direction. His plans and purposes are way better that what we can imagine, even those with big imaginations. We don’t always know the outcome at the beginning of a directive, but the all-knowing Almighty God does, and so we put our faith and trust in Him, regardless of age or circumstances. “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope”(Jer. 29:11). Go for it! Dream big, my friends.