Ending One Chapter Leads to Beginning Another
By Mallory Slocum
June 13, 2016
May 1st will be an important day for me (although by the time you read this it will be long past it) because it is my graduation day. On the first of May, I will receive a Master of Arts in Theology. I cannot believe that I have finally made it to this point. It has been a long journey but it one that has been well worth it.
Although my graduation is at the beginning of May, there will be many graduation ceremonies that will take place later on in May and the beginning of June. All of the schools in the area will be saying farewell to another class of students. Many of these will be high school graduations, some college, maybe even pre-school. No matter the level of education all of them are important.
Graduating from high school is a big milestone. As parents, you may think back on your child’s (or children’s) first day of school. Then, you watch as they complete their primary education experience by receiving their high school diploma. Many, but not all, will go on to college. So, as they walk across that stage they will complete one chapter and then begin another. For those who do not go on to college, they will be entering the work force. At one point or another, marriage and family will enter the picture.
Think of your life as if it were a book. Your experiences are divided into chapters. When you reach the end of one look back to the beginning and see how much has happened in the small frame of time. The experiences you have had and the knowledge gained will help you in the future. Do not take any of these experiences for granted.
When you are looking ahead, be open to new possibilities. I had an idea of where my life was going to head, but God had different plans for me. We may have hopes for what we would want to happen however we must remain open to God’s plan. Romans 8:28 tells us, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” God calls us to be good and to do good deeds.
2 Timothy 1:9 asserts our calling. “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began.” No matter how many goals we set for ourselves, we must keep this goal at the top of the list. As Christians, we MUST strive to be holy and this should be a part of our “life book.” Each chapter should include descriptive experiences of us striving to fulfill this calling. So as we finish one chapter, we will move on to the next one. When we celebrate a milestone, God celebrates with us. He offers us hope for the future and we should not ignore what He calls us to do.
