Lindsey's Graduation

(While it is difficult to use the logo of any university that is not a Razorback, I'm so proud of my daughter for her recent graduation from the University of Memphis, that to honor her, I've added their logo here.

I wrote this on Friday night, to be read at her graduation party on Saturday. While it never seemed the right time during the midst of the celebration, I did get to read it aloud to her while only a few people remained. )


Today, I’m 2 days shy of being 48 years old. Like many men at my age, I’ve looked back over the last 25+ years and wondered how in the world did I get here. I have to ask myself “Is this really where I thought I would be when I started out”? And if it were possible, what would I have done different? It seems like we should have at least one opportunity at a do-over. But we don’t. So we are left with memories of both good and bad. And if we are wise, we learn from the bad and take joy in the good. And while it may seem easy to reflect on those things we wish had turned out differently, it’s considerably more joyful to celebrate those things that have turned out wonderfully, in spite of our inadequacies and often blatant ignorance. Today is such a celebration.

So today we rejoice in my first born: Lindsey, our little guinea pig.

Lindsey Wild was born July 25, 1985. She was a joy from the very start. She could bring a smile to my face when nothing else could. I remember when she first walked. It was on her first birthday and she just stood up and walked across the room as if that was what one was supposed to do on your first birthday. Next thing we know she was ice skating and the delight of her instructors. She loved going to figure skating classes and could skate better than most I’m proud to say. She would be angry with me if I told you what it is, but she got her second nickname while in those ice skating class. She would probably disown me if I told you what the first one was.

Lindsey, during her middle and high school years was never a terribly organized student, but one who had a love for learning. Particularly when it came to subjects of the utmost value and that she could use throughout her entire life. Subjects that would take her to the far reaches of success and fortune. In fact there was one in particular that we all knew would propel her into riches and fame beyond anything we could have ever imagined for her: Greek Mythology. In fact, just last week she proved to me just how valuable her knowledge of Greek Gods is. She was able to provide the answer to 29 down on last Saturday’s New York Times Crossword Puzzle. We wouldn’t have finished it otherwise.

After high school, Lindsey left home for a year to train and travel with a Christian drama group. She was in Minneapolis MN for 6 months training with the ministry and working at Applebee’s. I’ll never forget the time I called her after she had been there for awhile and heard her say “Yaaah” and “doncha know?” I almost got in the car and drove to MN immediately to get her and bring her back to the south. Thankfully, it’s been purged out of her. One day, while driving around town with her, I made her listen to “Sweet Home Alabama” about 10 times straight just to get her to say “ya’ll” again.

And now, after years of hard work and the wailing and gnashing of teeth, Lindsey has completed all her undergraduate studies and graduated with honors with a degree in political science. (Is it only me, or does anyone else think it odd that you can get a degree that’s name is two words that should probably never go together.) I guess if you can get a degree named political science, you must be pretty smart. And that’s my Lindsey: Intelligent, diligent, and independent. But also compassionate, caring, and loving.

I have to admit, I don’t know how you have survived us. For all the time it seemed like we knew what we were talking about – not so much. We guessed a lot. And we hoped and prayed a lot. And it spite of all of our short comings, you have not only survived, but thrived. And while all of us who have had the opportunity to be in your life would love to take some credit for today, we can’t. For when the final tally is taken, we’ve had very little to do with anything. But when it comes right down to it, neither have you. For you know that the scriptures tell us that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. And for all the adulation and recognition you receive today, it palls in comparison to the riches there are to be found in knowing and serving Jesus. As a believer and follower of Christ, the only source of strength and confidence with which you can accomplish or attribute anything is Him and Him alone. The words of encouragement you heard today regarding success for now and in the future are only the words of men. They are weak and without power. You know where the words of life and power come from and what they say: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” And “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”. And in Paul’s magnum opus, at the conclusion on his argument of justification by faith alone, Paul states at the end of Romans Chapter 8: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus out Lord”.

So with these words from scripture, and many others in mind and heart, I charge you today: Be satisfied in God and God alone. And that no matter where you go in life from this day forward, if you live your life devoted with all confidence in the words of life spoken to us by God and to the understanding that He is sufficient in all things pertaining to life, and that filled with joy, you will know a fulfillment that makes everything this world will offer look filthy and void of any value. So I charge you further: pursue Him, call on Him, embrace Him, ENJOY Him. And know that for as much as all of us here today love you, it is nothing compared to the love He has for you. Before you were mine, you were His. You were in His heart before you were born. You belong to Him first. Therefore, make Him the object of all your affection. Live to make His glory your only thought by being fully satisfied in Him alone. And look forward to the day when you no longer desire the words of praise from any man, but desire only to hear: “Well done my good and faithful servant”.

Lindsey, I love you with all I have. Be blessed today in the company of all these who do as well. Celebrate this day as a passing of time of hard work and learning. But most of all celebrate Him today and every day and the knowing that you are the child of the One who loves you for everlasting.

The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.