Today I went to the Lowell High School graduation.  I seriously have not returned to a Lowell graduation since I graduated some 8 years ago.

First, I have to laugh at how I even got into the graduation.  I didn't have a ticket, and I went hoping that they would be lenient on checking for tickets.  No such luck.  Much to my dismay, each door was meticulously manned, and not only that, each person at the door was collecting the tickets in bags.  It didn't look good.  I thought about sneaking in, and then nixed the idea, opting instead to pray that God would help get me in somehow.

So I stood outside the auditorium obeserving each of the ticket collectors--I picked the one that looked most sypathetic.  A blond high school kid in a ROTC uniform was my first hope.  I sauntered up to the door and asked, "Is it possible for me to get in without a ticket?"  To which he replied, "Do you have a good reason?"  To which I then replied, "I have a few of my highschoolers graduating."  Which, when I thought more about it, makes no sense.  #1, I don't look old enough to have children of my own in high school, and #2, if I was a teacher, I wouldn't need to sneak in.

To my relief, the boy waved me in.  I almost chuckled at how easy it was to get in on such a lame excuse. 

As I reminisced through the ceremony, my heart lifted in the realization that the many things which were so important to me in high school are no longer things in which I pursue.  Case in point: I desperately wanted to be among those who got to go on stage for obtaining a 4.0 GPA.  But I graduated with a 3.92 (so close, but yet sooooo far).  What's even funnier is that today I recognized one  teacher who made that dream of scholastic excellence (or intelluctual absurdity) a mere dream.  Ms. Morehen, my Advanced Algebra 2 teacher who gave me a "C" even though I was a tenth of a percent away from a "B."  No hard feelings, Ms. Morehen.

As I stared out into the sea of red representing the graduating class, I realized that these kids have seen nothing yet, giving truth to the cliche that the best is yet to come.  So much of life awaits them, as it awaited me (and still does).  But the worst also awaits them.  Without the grace of my God, I would not have been able to weather and grow through many a season of hardship.  It is our part in sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

To the graduating class of 2004, my prayers are with you.