I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. Paid subscribers have access to liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary.
We are quickly approaching high school graduation season.
Honestly, after walking three kids through the ever-intensifying college admissions process, I do not miss it. As much as we tried, we all got sucked into the admissions rates game and did our best not to gauge our level of excitement by external (and manipulative) numbers. We were pretty good, but every once in a while, one of us, parents or graduates, caught ourselves wondering how so-and-so got into X University with a 5.7% admission rate. It was not always pretty 😔
Our kids were set up with all of the privileges that allowed them to attend four-year schools, but not all graduates go to college, and not all young people even graduate from high school. These folks are often forgotten during these times when we sometimes let our genuine pride make others feel excluded.
To be clear, I am not anti-college (though in the age of A.I. one may want to rethink that Computer Science major). Higher education is important, even vital for some, but we must be careful not to communicate that a young person's worth is not based on graduating from high school, going to college, or even having a clue about what they want to do next.
With all of these things stirring the souls of many, I leave you this prayer.
For High School Seniors #LetUsPray
let us pray —
god of transitions and change during this season of graduations
remind us, again and again not all young people are hopeful about the future and we must lament the world we have created
remind us, again and again there is much they have left behind and we must give them room to mourn what was
remind us, again and again not every graduate knows, "what's next" and we must encourage curiosity and patience
remind us, again and again by choice or by circumstance not all graduates go to college
remind us, again and again that the measure of our pride is not based on acceptance rates
remind us, again and again that "letting go" looks different for everyone and there is no right way to enter this next stage of life
in whatever place these young people find themselves remind them again and again their worth does not come from a high school diploma their worth does not come from college admission their worth does not come from having a plan their worth comes from God
may we surround the graduates in our lives to be their reminder — again and again
for these things we pray — amen.
If you are a parent sending off your first or third kid to college, embrace the tears! And if you are a young person leaving your parents, let them hover and help just a little bit longer.
In writing liturgy, I attempt to be economical with words while addressing the events of the day in ways that help people find grounding in their faith. For readings, I refer to the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary(RCL) and The Narrative Lectionary from The Working Preacher(NL). Paid Subscribers should please feel free to use any of the liturgical resources with or without attribution.
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