Power in the blessing

The last high school graduation I attended, when someone I knew and loved had donned the hard-earned cap and gown, was some years back. And in those long-gone yesteryears, I attended only one Baccalaureate. Apparently, the entire concept, to bless those brave, young hearts as they go forward into a world that will seek only to see how many kicks it will take before they cry "uncle" and surrender, had fallen out of favor.

As is so often the case, it is my privilege to share many of this community's traditions because of the work God has provided for me.

The Baccalaureate is another favorite. I'm grateful that the concept remains in favor, at least in our sweet corner of God's earth.

I haven't seen them all, more's the pity. But the stage is always set with clean young faces, topped with that coveted cap, tassels not yet turned, jeans and sandals peeking out from the flowing gown as the same fidgets that earned the kindergarten teacher's frown, remain barely contained.

Some are there, fully knowing the power of the blessings that will be spoken over them. Perhaps they've heard the old, old stories about Abraham blessing Isaac, and Esau's tears when he was denied the blessing, his brother stealing it from their father.

Others are there because their parents understand the power of the blessing and would have it spoken over them, whether their child thought it needful or not. The parents, no doubt, remember the old, old stories. They've read them through.

Still others are there because this is just "one of the things we do for graduation." And the blessing, along with its power, just floats over their heads.

I guess I'm not surprised the concept of blessings has fallen out of favor. Complacent Christianity has won another day. Complacent Christianity hasn't read the stories of old. They've heard a sound byte or two about "blessings" practically every Sunday morning, but the power of a blessing escapes them. And that's a shame.

Those bright eyes smiling out at everyone Sunday night are a precious memory, especially for those who have looked into those same eyes, every night and every morning for the past 18 years. And those bright eyes will shine with the tears that will come, joy and sorrow, sweet and bitter. Pray an even number of each, so that the heart that sees will rejoice with those who are rejoicing and mourn with those who mourn.

Young, strong bodies will discover that two-a-days aren't anything compared to 12 hours with a shovel in your hand and miles to go before you're done - six days a week. Pray that the callouses will only grow on their hands, and not in their hearts.

Soon, more changes will come. Perhaps a full-ride scholarship covers the next four years. Pray the Spirit of the Lord will go before them at every step. The perils are many and they may forget to put on "the full armor of God."

Perhaps wedding bells have been tuning up for these two since they played romantic leads in their junior year. They really did have chemistry. Pray that they will take every step heart-to-heart and hand-in-hand, so that nothing can separate them.

Remember their heartaches, their triumphs, their doubts, their fears and their dreams are the same for them as yours were to you. Did your life turn out "according to plan?" Mine didn't. It didn't even come close. Is today a reality you can celebrate? Did your boundary lines "fall in pleasant places" as they have for me? Pray that they too will enjoy the journey and that they will celebrate all that they will learn along the way.

The world is a marvelous, wonderful, beautiful place and I cannot begin to express my wonder, whether gazing over a high mountain meadow or a vast expanse of restless water at land's end. To know in the smallest measure the One who put it all in place loves even me sends me to my knees.

The world also is a dark and forbidding place, laden with booby-traps, temptations and evil prowling the streets, unseen in form, glorified in gore. Evil seeks only man's demise, every man's destruction. The darkness is revealed each day, balancing the scales I suppose, as I am exposed to it every day because of the work God has provided for me. It, too, brings me to my knees.

I've often wondered about those children whom Jesus blessed that day on the Judean hillside so long ago. There was power in that blessing - perhaps they even found the strength needed to stand against Caesar's sword.

We do well to speak God's blessing on our children. There is power in the blessing.

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

I don't have all the answers, but I know the One who does. Let's walk together for a while and discover Him together.

Dawn