A Benediction
Good God. We are here in an attitude of thanks: for students, teachers and parents. God, there is so much in our world that deserves our thanksgivings. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us. We thank you for all valiant seekers after truth, freedom, and justice.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you and each other. We can be stubborn sometimes and think we have all the answers. But you in your infinite humor and wisdom have made a world that reminds us daily that ‘going at it alone’ is rather foolish. Every now and then you remind us that we really are made for friendship and charity, and not for self-satisfaction and greed. We don’t like this very much, especially when it means we have to share our lives with others and even strangers, but we thank you anyway.
Last but not least, we thank you for the life of the children entrusted to our care. Help us to remember that the life of the mind, the welfare of the heart, and the long conversion to a life of mature happiness is what education is all about. Strengthen, support, guide and nurture today’s graduates, and may this day of celebration be long and fruitful and include good food, good company and many laughs.
Amen.
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