Stories & Articles

Dear Reader,

The weekend before last I attended the college graduation of our daughter and grandson from the University of South Carolina. It’s unique that a mother and her son earn degrees on the same day from the same college.

As proud and happy as I was for both of them, I was not looking forward to the ceremony. A lot of sitting, yawning, and trying to stay awake is the price we pay to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our children and grandchildren.

But this graduation ceremony was different.

Sitting in comfortable seats with 18,000 of my closest friends

It was held in an 18,000-seat basketball arena. Though our seats were close to the rafters, they were quite comfortable. The JumboTron made what was happening on stage easily visible.

The university president gave the commencement address, not some politician or celebrity disconnected from the university. He talked about the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year: “Brain Rot,” and how to avoid it.

It was short and to the point. Use social media in moderation. Don’t believe everything you read or hear. Ask questions. Be curious. All of it music to my Baby Boomer ears. Listening to him kept me from being bored

Then an honorary doctorate was given to the retired president of Harvard University, who already had an earned doctorate in American History. A lovely woman who spoke of her time years ago doing historical research on campus using the vast collection of primary sources housed in USC library.

I was so happy for her that she wasn’t President of Harvard now – and having to deal with the turmoil that university currently faces. Putting myself in her shoes and being grateful for her good fortune kept boredom at bay.

Finally, the time came for students to march across the stage as their names were announced. We were told it would take one hour and 34 minutes for each person’s name to be read, and to please hold our applause until the very end (which, as you know, has never been universally accepted).

1,741 names read in one hour and 34 minutes

Once our daughter’s and grandson's names were read, I could feel a nap coming on. But something happened inside me. As the names of the other graduates were announced, I began to reflect on the hard work and sacrifices most of them made to reach this milestone in their lives. I certainly saw this firsthand with our daughter and grandson.

One after another for an hour and 34 minutes, 1,741 graduates walked across the stage in a parade of individual, unique stories of joy over challenges met. Watching all this were the families and friends who filled nearly every seat in the arena to share in the joy. I imagined some of them celebrating the first college graduate in their family’s history.

Speculating with a holy curiosity about what others might be feeling left no room for boredom to creep in.

As the march of graduates across the platform neared the end, it reminded me of what the Bible says about God and our relationship with him. So many verses talk about the love God has for each individual.

He knows all 1,741 graduates intimately, deeply loves each one, and wants the best for them. Reflecting on this important truth made the time go quickly.

We are all so important to him that he sent his son Jesus to save us from ourselves so that one day we could be with him for all of eternity.

More than spectators

The people watching from the stands reminded me of the passage in scripture about “a great cloud of witnesses” in heaven who have gone on before us. They became our spiritual cheerleaders, much like basketball fans in the arena in which we were seated.

What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, celebrating and honoring my daughter and grandson, and thinking about the many ways God continues to bless me and others around me.

Boredom never had a chance.

Until next time, I wish you all the joy that you can wish.*

John Certalic

• The Merchant of Venice, Act III, scene 2

P.S. Here’s last week’s blog post in case you missed it

May 14 – An Unusual Treatment for Anxiety​

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