Recently I watched and attended the graduation of three of my grandchildren, one from elementary school, one from secondary school and one from university. God is faithful!
As I watched I was reminded of my own graduation back in the Netherlands before my family immigrated to Canada.
The year was 1953. It had been a year of much turmoil, not only in the Netherlands, remember – the ‘Watersnoodramp’ – storm flooding in February where 2000 Dutch people lost their lives and the end of the Korean War but also that our family had been approved for immigration to Canada and left the Netherlands unsure of the future in November 1953. I had just graduated from Grade 6, the end of the elementary school and had entered the secondary system in the M.U.L.O. A lot of changes for me as a 12 year old, for our family in our new location in Canada. Sure the immigration was exciting but at the same time a bit scary because there were a lot of things we needed to learn. Language, food, housing, work, geography, culture, weather and schooling.
In the Netherlands I had attended a ‘School met de Bijbel’ which meant that we prayed and sang hymns and psalms in the class but most of all our teacher emphasized in ALL that we studied and do and live by, on a daily basis, was ‘Coram Deum’. (before the face of God)
I contemplated this when I saw the graduation of my grandchild from university. Social work had been her choice specialty and she had done well, (Honours Bachelor of Social Work) even landing a full-time job before graduation. Before the ceremony and handing out of certificates (196 Graduates) there was a general acknowledgement about spirituality by the indigenous university president citing how we were connected to creation, but God as such was not connected with our lives as much. What I meant to say is; that there was no Christian redemptive narrative, the godly assist or caring hand, under the arm, those biblical promises, that a young (Christian) person needed as they are pushed into the stream of real life.
Another grandchild graduated from grade 8 at a Christian school. Theme for the event was Psalm 27 ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield: my heart trusts in him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise him.’ As each child was mentioned by name a Bible text was recited, a teacher made an encouraging remark of appreciation about their time spent at school and then gave them their certificates of accomplishment. There was audience singing of a praise hymn and a prayer was said. A good message was said and appreciated.
Another grandchild graduated from a Christian high-school where the pattern was repeated, honors given and scholarships handed out for exceptional achievements. As each graduate/student came forward to receive their diploma a Bible text was given and remarks were made by a teacher about the student’s time at the school but here was a difference. Not only were the teacher’s remarks on a very personal basis but there was affection, fun and sincere appreciation for the different ways the student had impacted teachers, fellow students and the whole school. It reflected an atmosphere present at the school of playful intimacy, family intimacy. The highlight of that closeness was, when the two teachers and the student (my grandson) re-enacted the electrifying/unity cry of his Student Council (do they still call it that?) campaign by the three of them raising swords and shouting ‘All for one and one for all.’
The theme of the evening was the earlier address by a former student, now a church pastor, entitled: just don’t quit!. The emphasis here was on sticking with your studies; with your commitments, with your jobs, marriage, friendships, family and your faith, stick with life. Stick with it like Jesus who came to save sinners and did not flinch living forward to his determined goal. There was a presenting of Gospel (good-news) the Saviour has come. This ‘anchor’ theme for the evening was gathered from the letter of James chapter 1 verses 22 – 25 ‘Do not merely listen to the Word, and deceive yourselves. Do what it says…whoever looks intently in the perfect law that gives freedom, not forgetting what they have learned, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do’. Yes the caring lies in the doing! The hymn sung ‘Great is Thy Faithfulnes” fits the occasion.
And so my reflection went back to the time I graduated from Grade 6 (end of my primary education) back in 1953. I do not remember a full graduation ceremony but I do remember receiving a personal diploma/certificate designed by the principal. (W. Meijer **) You can see it at the head of this post. It is a bit faded but at the top in the middle panel the Bible text (with promise) – and then a picture points to the life road we must all take, leading to the end pictured as a mountain top life-time climb, not of status or wealth or smartness or best in the community, but the mountain top of heavenly realms, the salvation promised to all who have persevered faith in the Lord of life. The Bible text there states: ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’ taken from the Acts of the Apostles chapter 16 verse 31. At the bottom, the School board’s signatures and my name, all of this very faded over time. Around the borders of this diploma/certificate on both sides, are the different applied occupations and areas of work that a person might be involved in. The corner squares represent (from top left, clockwise) Environment – Agriculture – Commerce – Industry. Then on the left side are the areas of study: mathematics = writings/journalism = theology/philosophies and on the right side: creation = history = nature; representing the reformed Christian world view pictured out for the student and for every one who will ‘labour in the vineyards’ of the Lord. No matter where or when, under all circumstances ‘the eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.’ Book of Deuteronomy chapter 33 verse 7. ‘Sun of righteousness shine on us.’ Our world belongs to God and everything in it.
Graduations are always joyous occasions: full of expectant life possibilities and future opportunities. Graduates, go and walk with God! and He will direct your paths.
Love the hymn: Earth and all Stars. (youtube)
Earth and all stars, loud rushing planets, sing to the Lord a new song!
O victory, loud shouting army, sing to the Lord a new song!
Refrain: He has done marvelous things. I too will praise him with a new song!
Hail, wind, and rain, loud blowing snowstorms, sing to the Lord a new song!
Flowers and trees, loud rustling dry leaves, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain
Trumpet and pipes, loud clashing cymbals, sing to the Lord a new song!
Harp, lute, and lyre, loud humming cellos, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain
Engines and steel, loud pounding hammers, sing to the Lord a new song!
Limestone and beams, loud building workers, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain
Classrooms and labs, loud boiling test-tubes, sing to the Lord a new song!
Athlete and band, loud cheering people, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain
Knowledge and truth, loud sounding wisdom, sing to the Lord a new song!
Daughter and son, loud praying members, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain
Composer: Herbert Brokering (1964) says: ‘I tried to gather into a hymn of praise the many facets of life which emerge in the life of community. So there are the references to building, nature, learning, family, war, festivity. Seasons, emotions, death and resurrection, bread, wine, water, wind, sun, spirit. . . have made great impressions on my imagination.‘ (Composer’s quote taken from Hymnary.org)
**W. Meyer is also the author of ‘The Bible for Youth’ (Bijbel voor jongere mensen) written under the pen name of Wolf Meesters.
JS June 29, 2024
On the Road 