The Magical Aisle
My graduating class stood at the front of the event pavilion, eagerly anticipating the end of our 12-year journey. It was a beautiful August afternoon in a small town of Wisconsin and we were ready to receive our high school diplomas, signifying the conclusion of this portion of our education. This was a day that we had all been looking forward to for many years, and it was finally here!
It was August 15, 2020, in a small outdoor event pavilion where our friends and family gathered to celebrate our high school graduation. Excitement was high in the air as my class and I talked among each other, eagerly awaiting the ceremony to commence. Finally, “Pomp and Circumstance”, the classic graduation tune, rang throughout the pavilion and our graduation class began to file down the aisle. As Jared, our class speaker said in his graduation speech “Wow, it has been a long and tiring last couple of months. But with an amazing God and friends by our side, we are all here celebrating an end to something we started 12, going on 13, years ago. The end of one chapter, but the beginning of the next.” Many “Congratulations!” and hugs from family and friends were exchanged to us as we threw our graduation caps up into the air and walked back down the aisle as now-graduated individuals. To me, the aisle itself felt magical as it signified the start of a new adventure. With all the required schooling behind me, I looked ahead to plans I had for myself in the upcoming years.
Graduation day is an enormous milestone for anyone, but this ceremony was a pure miracle for us graduates. When May 9, our graduation ceremony day, came around, an unpredictable situation came up that removed all possibilities of allowing us to have our ceremony as previously planned. The tears and disappointment that flowed from this cancellation were almost unbearable. We reminded each other of Jeremiah 29:11, which says "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" By God’s grace, the group of graduates came together and decided to reschedule our graduation ceremony. As I walked down the seemingly magical aisle on that big day, I imagined that I was figuratively walking away, leaving the disappointments of my senior year behind me and walking towards my bright future. Although this event happened directly before most of us would be heading off to college and our new journeys, we were able to squeeze this important ceremony in together. It was difficult to leave that day, knowing that our tight-knit group of friends would be disbanded as we dispersed, going our different ways. I tried to hold back my tears as we exchanged hugs and said goodbye, knowing that the possibility of seeing each other again soon was far out of reach.
The emotions that came from that special day were intense, but I am forever thankful for the people I got to share it with. As I stood up at the front of the event pavilion that beautiful August afternoon in front of all my friends and family, I could not help but dream about what the future years would hold and what God was going to do in my life. There I was, ending my 12-year journey, but just stepping out into the journey of a lifetime. To conclude, I would like to share with you a challenge by one of my fellow graduates that will help guide you as you look forward to what God has in store for your life. “Dream big and achieve small until your small achievements meet your big dreams.”
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