The Cherry Weeps.....But Then Blooms

My precious yard guy and I had a discussion last summer. My weeping cherry had fallen victim to some sort of tree disease that was going around. Trees all over town were hit. The greenery died prematurely.  He looked at it and said "It's dead, Kim. You're probably going to have to get rid of it."

I love that tree. It's the perfect size, the perfect shape. I love where it sits in my yard, right above my glorious quince bush. (I just found out the name of that bush this year thanks to my Facebook friends. They teach me things all the time that I can't easily Google.) Whoever landscaped my yard did a wonderful job. The idea of losing this perfect tree was inconceivable, I just couldn't. 

So I denied it. I wouldn't believe it. I declared it was still alive. He gave me that indulgent "OK....we'll wait for now, but you'll see."

So I waited. It had no leaves the rest of summer or through the winter. With the warm weather, the quince bush below bloomed. Amazing, vibrant orange. But the weeping cherry was desolate in comparison. No blooms there.

Then this week. I was in the car, pulling out of my driveway, and looked in that direction. I saw cherry blooms. Not the normal covering, but some. There are signs of life there. You have to look a bit closer, but it is beautiful. It seems to be getting better. The blooms seem to be increasing.

It's interesting to me that this happens as we begin the countdown to Easter.....the celebration of rebirth. Sometimes we are that tree. Sick and hit by outside and inside plagues. Worn down and tired and a bit dead inside. And worn out. Ugly. Purposeless. Trying to find our joy, but we just can't touch it. And those who look at us do so with pitying eyes that see the disease, that see the death, and doubt our possibilities. Sometimes we believe them. Sometimes that inner glimmer shines just a bit, defiantly, and we refuse to live as dead.

Then it happens. We start to bloom. We come to life. Slowly,  but surely, we fight the blight. Sometimes beyond us works to make us the gorgeous vision of what we were meant to be. Even we seem a bit surprised of the change.

I love the message of Easter. I'm starting to enjoy observing the season of Lent. Anticipation of the dead coming back to life. The renewal of our purpose. The death of winter turning to the blooming of spring.

I've felt a bit of the blight lately. Tired and rundown. Emotional and a bit purposeless. I've been challenged by several to observe Lent in some very positive ways. To give away my stuff that sits unused. Let it have new life in someone else's hand.

The ladies of my church are going to focus on the simple act of walking. Together and on our own. Adding the disclipline of action. Maybe praying as we go, for ourselves and each other and our world. Maybe communing with God. Maybe encouraging each other. Maybe letting God encourage us. Maybe celebrating our bodies and where they are now, and where they can be if we treat them well. Maybe looking around and seeing needs we can meet.

Some people use Lent to give up things that have a hold on them, Just 40 days of this self denial can give new perspective. Especially if you replace it with positive things that free you.

I'm someone who easily loses focus. I need to constantly reset. This is not a bad thing. It is who I am and I know it about myself. It is who most of us are, I believe. We have short attention spans and we are prone to wander. I eventually re-evaluate and recommit to living my purpose, even as that purpose changes. Sometimes just moving forward in faith, not sure where God is leading me. I'm at that place now. Feeling like change is coming, and preparing to embrace it. To set the fear aside and live life well.

God is here. He leads me to good things. He reminds me he is bigger than people. That ultimately he is in control. And that which worries me or paralyzes me is in vain. He shows me that this short life can be long and eternal. We all change this world forever.....the question is how. Do we improve it, make it worse, or increase the mediocrity?

For now that weeping cherry tree is not weeping. It blooms. It is adding beauty to the world. What is ahead for it? I have no clue. But for today I will celebrate it and be glad I wasn't hasty to remove it. It brings me hope and contentment and a reminder that the experts and those who give us their opinions are sometimes wrong. It makes me smile. Sometimes you need to go with your gut and live in anticipation of the gift of rebirth. Joy.

On Being A Grownup

Often I feel like being a grownup is over-rated. I see people who think it means the fun is zapped from your life. I certainly don't believe that....if you do it correctly, the fun increases, as does your ability to create fun in most life situations. You learn life is short....and you want to make it good. Being a grownup should make life easier, and better.

I've been thinking a lot about maturity lately, though. There just seem to be a lot of adults around that don't seem to have gained much of it in their lifetimes. When can you tell where it is lacking? Look for the drama.

What do I consider drama? Responding to life in ways that make you appear to be a hormone-controlled adolescent. Oh, I remember those days well. Going home from school and laying on my bed crying for no reason....or a stupid reason. Saying "I hate you" to anyone who didn't make me happy at the moment. Trying to play games to get my own way....and not grasping why everyone didn't understand that the "rules" I expected others to abide by, didn't necessarily apply to me. Silly thoughtless pranks, words that cut, making decisions solely to hurt those who have hurt me. Remember?

When you are an adolescent, your changing hormones sometimes control your body. Our body chemistry always controls human beings to a degree. We are pre-disposed to certain things - some to anger, some to tears, some to stuffing everything inside until we blow, some to depression and mania, some to perfect calm. While some of these body fluctuations change and settle down as we get older, some stay with us forever. The difference between an adolescent and a grown-up? These changes are new to the adolescent and we need to gently teach them how to manage them, and apply a lot of grace when they get it wrong. An adult should have somewhat mastered the art.

As you age, you should get better at exercising self-control. You should know yourself well enough to know your strengths and weaknesses. You should get help for things you can't manage yourself....and know that sonetimes asking for help is the greatest show of strength. You should realize life just isn't all about you and your feelings. While it is natural to see and respond to the actions of others, at the heart of our thought life should always be "So, what am I doing wrong here?" Your biggest God-given responsibility is always the person you are becoming. That is where you have choices. That is where you can make the biggest difference in this world. Most often the choices of others are out if your control....and you should keep them there.

Life in itself has a lot of drama. People get sick. People die. People get married. People get divorced. People wrong us. People love us. People make bad decisions. People make good decisions. People win. People lose. People triumph. People fall.

When life happens, there doesn't have to be a scene. You don't have to make everything a dramatic event...or make the dramatic events of others your dramatic event. You don't show your love any more when you do. In fact, you often show your own selfishness - you make their issues about you. 

You don't have to condemn. You don't have to be the angel of righteousness. You don't have to be the Holy Spirit. Others hold down those jobs and responsibilities....and they are better at it than you.

Because you are hurt or scarred by others, does not mean your best place to reside is in the crux of that. And because you love someone, you don't have to solve their problems for them. If you're spending too much time thinking on their issues, or worrying about them, you're probably neglecting your own purpose. Offering a hand up when someone falls down is usually the right thing to do. Carrying them around on your back when they have legs that work, is taking everything a bit too far.

The emotions that come when someone wrongs us are natural. They become wrong when we let them control our future. We are all "done wrong" at some point in life. Forgiving and moving on does not mean they were right....it means your future is not controlled by their actions. I've been told some unbelievable stories of forgiveness during my time on this earth. What's interesting is that if you watch their lives, you can easily see these true forgivers are people of power. Those who stay victims stay weak. Often forgiving is not a one-time decision....it is a constant process until it no longer controls us. Until it no longer has power in our lives.

It's weird to me when I see hatred directed at people from someone who has wronged them. This is something I want to study a bit more.....I just don't understand it. My thought is "So you did this to them, what gives you the indulgence to hate?" I know there have probably been times in my life where people looking on my life thought the same thing about me. Splinter, meet plank. I figure studying this may demonstrate that to me more. But I am willing to face the pain if seeing that plank in my eye so I can change me. So I can see truth better. I read something recently that was talking about people evaluating other people.... it said our opinion says much more about us than it does about those we evaluate. It made me start looking inward a bit more when I find myself "evaluating."

As we reflect on our plan to get our life on an emotionally even keel...and I can tell you that from my experience, living life mostly in balance does make life better....we have to consider the feelings of others around us. Sometimes those feelings won't be rational to us - they are looking at the world through a different lens, that has been distorted by their own set of problems and experiences, and body chemistry. They act out of pain, out of fear, out of emotion....just as we do, but yet differently. Or maybe not so differently, and that is why we combust when together. We see in others that in ourselves that we hate or fear.

Life should be more fun as we grow up, because we learn the art of self-control. We learn to mind our own business, and have faith that others will work out their own challenges without our taking over or acting as their avenging angel. We should roll our eyes a bit at the drama...and get to the business of enjoying our life and employing our purpose. Remember all those things that we thought were so important and dramatic in our past? Many of them are now just a blip in our life experience. Not even enough to register as life-changing. Almost amusing because of the energy we devoted to them. We can see now how those around us (those we probably considered our best friends during that time) threw gasoline on the fire to make it even more spectacular, instead of handing us a bucket of water to put out the flames. They may have been well meaning but dead wrong in their approach. They added to the destruction instead of helping us rebuild.

So how are you doing? Are you living your life now as a grown-up or a child? It's a choice. And one that will impact the quality of your life and the lives of others. Life is short....make it good. Find peace and purpose. Be a fireman.....not an arsonist.

The Kimmons and Me

I met John and Nancy Kimmons when I was around nine years old and my family began to go to their church (Covenant ARP on Greenbriar Rd.) They were very different types of people and I had very different relationships with each of them.

I consider John Kimmons Sr. to be my first adult friend. When I was in high school and whoever was appointed to be our Sunday School teacher never showed up one semester, we spent about six weeks or so on our own....our high school Sunday School class was very small, usually only three or four of us at the most, and we would just hole up in our room (which was in the corner of the church basement) and hang out. One day John popped his head in the window and saw us there without adults, came inside, and became our self-appointed teacher. Well, teacher of sorts. No curriculum. He just talked to us. Like people. He shared his shortcomings, his humor, his faith. Like I said, he was a friend. He was quite open and honest about everything. More than most adults would be with teenagers. An alcoholic, he told stories of where he had been. What it had done to his family. The regret he had that his children had grown up with that man who drank. He talked of his days as a salesman. He introduced me to contemporary Christian music, and would loan me his albums. He had long conversations with me about dating and marriage (I don't think my perpetual singleness has anything to do with the promise he made me make about making sure I was cherished....and not just loved....when I decided to marry.) He made me laugh often, made me think, and I always felt he had the very manner of Christ. I saw Jesus as a better friend as a result of that relationship.

But oh, Nancy.....Mrs. Kimmons.....our early relationship was a bit different. She had the demeanor of the teacher she was. I kinda always felt like I was getting in trouble when I was around her. OK, often I was usually in trouble. There were a few lectures. When John was laid back and funny and I would have easily done anything he requested of me, Nancy made me want to rebel. Of course, I didn't. She was tough and I was a bit scared of her!

While John taught me to think about the goodness and forgiveness of Christ, and taught me how to be comfortable with my faith, Nancy challenged me in a different way. For example, I hated....really hated....having to be in the kid's plays at church. They made me physically ill. I had a tendency to start giggling uncontrollably in my nervousness, or talk with a voice shaking with fear. Not what you want people to see at the point in life where you are approaching adolescence.

It was time for play practice to begin one Christmas and Nancy was in charge. When I told my Mom how much I dreaded it, she said I didn't have to be in it if I didn't want to (Mom hates that sort of thing, too.) I went to Nancy and said "Mrs. Kimmons, my mom said I don't have to be in the play this year." Nancy knew my issues, I know, and I believe most adults would have just agreed and said it was OK. I thought she was going to give me a hard time and was surprised when she said "If that is what you want to do, Kim, that's fine." It was one of those times you turn around and want to do a fist pump. Score! But as I walked away she said "But you say you are a Christian, and you know that God says where you are weak, there He is strong." Pow!

With great strength I just continued to walk away, but I guarantee there was horror in my eyes. "Why is she doing this to me?" "Isn't that emotional blackmail?" "I hate her." Yeah, I think that was the general train of my thoughts. But I kept thinking. And I started praying. And I cried out to the Lord to make me not have to do it. In the end, however, I couldn't deny that she was right. Yes, I was in the play and yes, it was hard, and yes I had to pray a lot, but it was OK.  It was a day of reckoning. If I trust God, sometimes I have to do things I hate, that I am not good at, that don't come naturally. Sometimes my minutes should be sacrifices, times where I deny me and my comfort, and let God work through the great weakness. (So OK, my whole life should be like that....but yes, I am a sinner. God gets that.) It is a lesson I carry with me to this day and am still trying to perfect. I'm not there yet, but I haven't stopped trying.

John died when I was in college, and while it was one of my greatest losses, I also was prepared for it. He prepared me. In one of our talks he said "This heart isn't going to last forever and one day you will hear it has given out. When it does, know that my body will go over to Winston so that medical students can learn from it, and my soul will be more content than ever."  His was a presence just made for heaven, so I was always able to find comfort in that. My life suffered loss when he died, but because I knew how much better he felt having shed that body and damaged heart, I had to rejoice.

During subsequent years, I saw Nancy going about life, seemingly so strong and capable through everything. Yet now I know from talks with her how difficult it was. I know she missed John every day. But she also knew God wasn't done with her yet, so she spent her time well. She invested in ministries and people. Her first few years moving to Greensboro were difficult, but she knew it was best. She had already learned "When we are weak, then He is strong"....so she put it into practice. I always just thought she was strong naturally. It was pretty amazing to learn how much she had to lean on God, too.

These past few years,, as she was in her 90s, I have seen a difference in Nancy, a vulnerability. She was shakier on her feet, shakier in her confidence. I think she was at the point where she felt she was a resident of heaven, and an alien to earth. As several mentioned at her memorial service, Nancy probably got to heaven and said "What took you so long?" She was ready to go....several years ago. In her own way, like her husband John, Nancy prepared me for her death. She was never as blunt as John about it, but she made no secret of the fact that she longed for heaven.

Like with John, I rejoice that she has shed that body and that her soul soars. Like with John, I will miss her so very much. Like with John, she will never die as long as I am on this earth. My eyes will remain open to the things that they both loved, and I will pray as they would have prayed. The lessons both taught me are part of the fabric of who I am. God has breathed through them into me. They both lived their lives as modern day disciples, and spent their lives investing in others. What a great legacy. What a gift for people like me.

Nancy's memorial service this week was perfection. The service was so beautifully a gift from her family to her and to their dad John, and Nancy had planned it with her son John (my former pastor and teacher.) Yes Nancy was a planner...and in this case she couldn't have done it any better and her kids and grandkids couldn't have executed it more perfectly. There was laughter, there were tears. There was music. The room was full, and when John Jr. asked how many people in that room had been discipled by his mom, hands went up all over. Mine included, of course. I was privileged...I got some of the prime time and the prime lessons. I got the wisdom of someone who not only knew life well, who not only knew God well, but knew me well. The delivery changed as the years went on.....from bluntness and correction, to pure encouragement. She wasn't my first adult friend, at least as I realized it at the time, but she was my friend indeed.

Nancy's last words to me were that she loved me, and those were my last to her. The great thing about love like ours is that it goes beyond this earth. The love doesn't stop by earthly death... it just flows from heaven. Purer, truer, and carried in me with the power of God's spirit. My hope is that I can pass on the lessons that were passed on to me, and multiply the love. They are great and treasured gifts and were made for sharing. Let me know if you need extra. I've got plenty to give and it would be a privilege to share them with you.

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Shaking Up the Comfort Zone -Falalalala lala lala

From Luke 1.....(Contemporary English Version)

"When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron. Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded. But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.

One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest. According to the customs of the priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord's temple that day and to burn incense, while the people stood outside praying.

All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. But the angel told him:

Don't be afraid Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son and you will name him John. His birth will make you very happy and many people will be glad. Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.

John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. He will go ahead do the Lord with the same power and Spirit that Elijah had.  And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. That is how John will get people ready for the Lord.

Zechariah said to the angel, 'How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.'

The angel answered 'I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all of this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.' "(V 5-20)

When everyone else is focused on the birth of Jesus this Christmas, I find myself focused on the birth of another special baby, John, the child of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zech and Liz (really, they were just normal people like you and me) were at a time in their life when I suspect they thought they had it all pretty much figured out. A good life, a simple life, a life of quiet purpose and routine. Obedient to what they saw as God's path for them. Then this angel comes along smack dab in the middle of all of that, and they find out their life is about to change!

I can't imagine what it must have been like for them. Reconciled to a quiet life without children of their own, they are told that their status is a-changing. Not only that, they are going to have to raise a kid who's not quite "normal". One who comes with some special handling required. A child who had a purpose even before he was conceived. One they will have to keep from ever drinking beer or wine, for goodness' sake! Doesn't God realize they are too tired for all of this? No wonder Zechariah finds himself struck dumb for a while!

I've been going through one of those times lately when I have felt blessed NOT to be a parent. It's a scary thing. I think all kids come with the same instructions as John, and yeah....for those of you that are parents you have a tremendous job that remains as long as both you and that child is on this earth. Your responsibility is to be to be teaching and encouraging and preparing them for their life's purpose every day...but it is also releasing them to their own purpose from day one. They are on one hand your responsibility, but on the other hand they do not belong to you at all. They belong to God. They were created to be themselves. You, however, were especially chosen to be their parent.

But I also think of my own responsibilities to the Johns of the world. Who can identify the special ones? Do we all come with the same sort of warranty? Not having children does not take me off the hook. It's still my job to teach and encourage. Angels can still come to me at any time to prod me towards a job or responsibility I feel totally unprepared for. Maybe my job is to light the incense to create the environment that will make others breathe in the breathe of God more deeply, but maybe, even at this time of life (when coasting through seems pretty appealing), more is expected of me.

It has made me think. Will I pay attention when God wants to shake my life up, or will I go on doing my comfortable routine (which looks way more respectable to those on the outside) and ignore the angel? Will I listen to the angel, but argue about it and think I have a better idea of God's plan? Will I really stop and smell the incense or just continue to let it burn in the background so the senses of others are aroused?

When we find ourselves in our comfort zone, God's probably not going to be able to do his best work. How much can we really lean on him there? If instead we approach life as a free fall, and God as the one who gives us the thumbs up as to when to jump, how exhilarating can our life be?

I write a lot about living a purposeful life because I have a really short attention span and I constantly have to remind myself. I'm easily distracted. But I want to be willing to be struck dumb like Zechariah. I want God to use me in a way I would never expect. And I want to hear the voices of angels when they speak to me and believe them, and not listen to them like they are Charlie Brown's teacher. When God sends me a message about a mission, I want to be ready, willing and able to say (once the shock passes) "Here I am, all ready to go."

You're never too old or too young to be used by God. You're never inadequate. He sees your limitations as assets. You just need to say "Well OK....I guess I'll do it." Don't even bother to fasten your seat belt. The ride is beginning and it just may render you speechless. But possibly like John, it will make parents more thoughtful of their children and people think right.  Now wouldn't that be something?!

Look at those kids of yours a bit closer today, regardless of their age. God has given them a purpose... are you encouraging them to live that, discouraging it, ignoring it, or putting up road blocks? Don't forget to pray and watch...God has given you a special seat in their lives for a reason.

Children or not, may God's angel speak to you, and may you be open to listening and ready to do whatever hysterical thing is asked. Because God has a definite sense of humor. It may be a baby for the old barren folks, or something equally as absurd. Go with it!

Make this a very special Christmas Eve. Be the gift!

Don't Assume

From time to time I get frustrated by statements that people make...statements that indicate they think everyone is like them, should be like them, shares their opinions, or fits in a little box of expectations.

One thing you can count on...in almost every group of people there is someone who belies definition, or doesn't look at a specific issue the same way you do.  We think we know others, even those we have never met or engaged in much conversation.  We think those who disagree with us should be punished and subtlety look for ways to do it. 
Here is a list of assumptions I have experienced and have heard that I think poison our world. Assumptions that are not necessarily truth.  These assumptions have limited lives, made people less than they are, have kept people from their potential, and have been used to cultivate lies in brains.  They bring division and not unity.  They are the roots of a lot of evil, directed at ourselves and others.  Here are some thoughts, many learned the hard way.

Don't assume that:

everyone wants to do the right thing.

the idea of who you think you are, is really all that you are.

because you believe something for a long time, it is right.

investing in negative things will produce positive results.

the majority should always rule.

how something looks is how something is.

because people follow you, doesn't mean you are correct or a worthy leader.

because you have experienced the same thing as someone else, you know what they are going through.

what you hear on the news is always truth, or what you would have found significant had you been there.

you have to agree with those you love.

you know your own limits.

everything that is true, is right.

everyone who attends church, or belongs to a church, is a person of faith.

everyone who does not attend church is not a person of faith.

people who look you in the eye are telling you the truth.

you are limited by your age.

it is easy for everyone to attend a party.

you really understand what others think of you.

because someone laughs at your teasing, it doesn't hurt them.

more money solves money problems.

you cannot be an athlete.

because you follow or do what you are told, doesn't mean you haven't made a decision.

all good people share the same faith.

people who have children, or teach children, like children.

those who flatter you, like you.

people's reactions have anything to do with you.

schools breed learners.

people who do not have children, do not have children by choice.....or those who do have children want them.

everything that is legal, is moral, or everything illegal, immoral.

those who don't want children don't like children....or would be bad parents if they chose to have them.

retirement means you never work again.

your doctor can read your mind.

all single people have made the choice to be single, or all singles want to be married.

all married people would marry their spouse again if given a choice.

everyone thinks that the United States is the best country on earth.

someone's sexuality can be determined by the way they talk, or by the way they look.

a marriage or family that looks good on the outside, is really good on the inside.

a marriage or family that looks bad on the outside is really bad on the inside.

everyone sees all the colors that you do.

all people of a particular race were raised the same, or hold the same values.

people who compliment you are telling the truth.

people who tell you that you look younger than your age really mean it, or those who guess your age are guessing the age they think really you are.

everyone is a team player.

those who say they will keep a secret will keep your confidence.

people who look happy, are really happy.

people who look mean are really mean.

anyone can ever stop prayer in schools.

Sunday is the Sabbath for all.

holding a job means you work.

just because it is in print, it is true and accurate.

everyone looks forward to holidays or wants to spend holidays with their family.

all who work on holidays are unhappy about it.

God says the same thing to each person, or expects everyone to believe or do the same things.

those who are in prison are guilty.

those who are declared innocent, are innocent.

freedoms should always be exercised.

quiet people are shy.

the advice of all parents is in the best interest of their child.

those who live in big houses are rich.

those who are homeless are poor.

where there is smoke there is fire.

cleanliness is really next to godliness.

everyone likes to receive gifts.

all pastors are Christians or have a closer relationship with God than you do.

those who profess to be atheists don't hear the voice of God.

those who have pets love animals.

those who don't have pets don't love animals.

all lawyers are sleazy.

some lawyers aren't sleazy.

all doctors have compassion and common sense.

everyone good at their job, likes their job.

they who cry loudest feel more.

you know the heart of someone you have never met, or even those you have.

those who appear healthy really are.

those who say they are sick are really sick.

age brings wisdom.

all members of a family are alike and live life the same way.

you can't do something because you have never been able to do it before.

the fat lack willpower.

the thin are healthy.

bullying is limited to the playground.

your vote doesn't count.

your vote counts.

treatment is available for addicts, even if they want it.

the words of an addict is truth, or that because they love you they won't lie to you.

birthdays are significant to all people, or a celebration for all people.

today is the way it is always going to be.

the strong can't be weak and the weak can't be strong.

everyone has someone with whom to celebrate a holiday, birthday, or special event.

those who appear in control feel that way beneath their skin.

if someone tells you it doesn't matter, it really doesn't.

those who borrow money will ever pay you back.

your sacrifices will ever be appreciated.

our political or justice system will work fine without your attention.

because someone does not speak your language or is from a different culture, they don't understand what you are going through.

celebrities are their image.

everyone sick has someone to hold their hand.

feelings tell you the truth.

people can read your mind.  Even those who love you.

you can read the mind of those that you know and/or love.

the movie is like the book.

you really are good at forming first impressions.

that God views you in the same way that people view you.

you have better things to do than sit on a jury.

people will tell you what they really think.

someone else's opinion of you is correct, whoever they might be.

someone else's opinion of you is wrong, even if it is different than you have always been told.

because you sing and people applaud, you are good at it.

the highly educated are smart, or those with no education are dumb.

there is much value in having cake if you can't eat it.

people owe you their secrets.

you have the moral right to speculate on the private lives of others.

it is true, unless they have told you it is true.

everyone has been the guest of honor at a party.

it is true because they told you it was.

you are too old or too young to help someone else.

that the biggest winner is the one who takes home the trophy or has the highest score.

how old you are has anything to do with your age.

hurting someone who has hurt you, damages them more than you.

attending the same event produces the same experience.

childish behavior is limited to children.

the weather report is accurate.

life is fair.

"I love you" means the same thing to everyone.

you have done anything that God was not aware of or cannot forgive.

how you live your life doesn't matter.

you are the center of the universe.

you are not important.

Assume little.  New opportunities and a bigger world of possibilities open to you when the door to your mind has not been shut.  Remove the deadbolt.  Don't be part of the lynch mob. Think before you speak.  Look at the finish line before you join the race.  Forgive and forget. Notice you don't exist in a bubble.  And sometimes admit you are wrong.

Graduating Into Happiness

Today I went back to my old high school for my niece Taylor's graduation. It has been 35 years since my own graduation day.  I know!  I can't believe it either!  I am much too young for that to be the case. 

I loved high school.  I had great friends, I liked most of my teachers (I was friends with some, had adversarial relationships with some, and others I just endured), and I liked learning.  While I know there were times of teenaged angst, most of my memories were great ones.  I remember a lot of laughter.  I remember a lot of good times.  I remember feeling accepted (at least by the people I wanted to be accepted by!) and feeling like I was a part of things.  Imagine my surprise when I found out that all of my friends didn't feel the same way at all!

I didn't learn this until my 10th reunion.  It seemed most of the people I had conversations with talked about what a horrible time of life that was and how they would never go back.  Even some of those people who were my closest friends.  By the end of the evening I wondered if I was the only one who had fun.  My best friend from 4th grade through high school, Carole Kunkle Page, wasn't at that particular reunion so afterwards I called her and asked "Did you like high school?"  She responded "Of course I did!  We had so much fun!  Remember the time..." and then she proceeded to recall some of our favorite high school memories.  At a pause in the conversation I said "Guess what?  We were the only ones having fun!"  Yes, we laughed.  We may have been living in a bubble of naiveté, but even then we knew that it wasn't a bad place to be.  There were plenty of things we could have worried about during those years, but I think we made a choice for things to be good and simply ignored the things that cause most teens struggle.

We often scorn naiveté in this life, but I think perhaps it is the secret of happiness (be it authentic or selective.)  Think someone is talking about you?  If you choose to assume "No, of course they are not!", it can negate a lot of worry.  Because really, does it matter?  What's that Dr. Seuss quote I love so much?  "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind?" (I have actually heard this is not a Dr. Seuss quote....but I will choose to ignore that for now!)

Think someone doesn't respect you the way you deserve?  When you're not thinking about them and your focus is on respecting yourself, you find it is something you can do something about.

Think that the cool kids are having way more fun than you are?  When you think you are the cool kids, you sort of feel sorry for all of the rest of them that aren't getting to do all of the cool things that you are doing.  (LOL....like blogging on a Saturday night!)

Think there is some drug or some drink that is going to give you superpowers and make you cool, suave and in control?  Hmmmmm.....take a look around at those who are trying to make it happen.  Fail!  You are quite cool, suave and in control all on your own.  I promise.  And if you aren't...."those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

I love teenagers.  I love college students.  I am fortunate to spend a lot of time with both.  I'm also fortunate that many are quite honest with me, about what they think, who they are, what they believe, what they do, and what they don't do.  I see myself in almost all of them.  Not much has changed really....in them or in me.  Often they are my biggest inspirations because they have a passion and an enthusiasm for life that is contagious.  And then there are the ones who don't....they usually are quite sad and troubled.

I had an intense side at that age.  I had a side that was insecure and felt like I didn't quite measure up.  I often felt unattractive, fat, gawky, and awkward.  I was smart, but always had the fear that I couldn't be smart enough....or I felt that I was a nerd and "normal" kids didn't think about the stuff that I thought about. Other times I did feel smart.  I felt that I was special.  I felt loved and cared for and knew that I had friends (and family and teachers) who supported me.  I felt fortunate to be me....and proud to be me.  I was crazy passionate about everything.....good, bad, or indifferent.  It all seemed to matter so much.  I volunteered, I participated, I lived high school life. 

The truth is, that girl is still here underneath.  The girl who walked across the stage and picked up that diploma hasn't changed much at all.  She still is a mixture of all kinds of good things and bad.  But when it gets down to it, I still choose to be naivé.  I still choose to think people are basically good (even though they can make big mistakes.)  I want to be someone who sees people succeed when they get a second chance (or a 10th.)  I still choose to try to ignore the angst and hope it goes away.  (Often it does.)  I still have teachers (be they bosses, politicians, friends or family) who I am friends with, who I am adversaries with, and who I simply endure.  They have their place....the good impact my life, the bad I choose to ignore.  I still love to learn.  Ultimately, I still choose to find the fun.  Why spend the bulk of your life in misery?

I am beginning to see a lot of friends die.  It used to be a rare occurrence, but it happens way too often now.  Sometimes as I reflect on those we have lost, I surmise that someone not only didn't have fun in life, they didn't really fulfill much purpose on this earth.  I find that to be tragic.  I think it is a betrayal of our creation. Not that I think we have to live lives of high intensity at every moment....personally I can't handle that and I don't think that is God's plan for most of us.  But to live a life by thoughtful design, a life we are proud of, a life that celebrates our gifts and our interests and our loves and our God.  That to me is our goal.  

The graduates that walked that stage this morning are at an exciting time of their life.  They are designing their days.  But you know something?  So are you!  While you may choose to be selectively naivé to enhance your own enjoyment of things, don't be naivé about life.  Live it purposefully, proudly and as if it will end tomorrow.  It really could.  Was the person you were today the one you want remembered?  If not it's time to move that tassle to the other side and graduate.  Tomorrow has a lot of opportunity just waiting for my niece Taylor, my goddaughter Shannon, my friends Amanda, Avery, Bethany, and Ciara...and for you!
 

A Normal Day?

Before I went to bed last night our local paper, the Record and Landmark, posted on Facebook that there was a wreck near my neighborhood where two people were killed.  They did not yet have identities of those involved.  I said a quick prayer for their loved ones and those public servants who were dealing with the accident, and my next thought was "I hope it wasn't anyone I know."  Made me pause when I realized it....as though the life of someone I didn't know would have any less value and be any less of a tragedy.  I went to bed, shaking my head a bit at myself.

I go to bed and I woke up about 4 this morning with a paralyzed neck.  You know....when the pain sears through you if you move it one iota.  But you know you need to move it, and tiny micro-movement by tiny micro-movement you do it.  Ouch!   Not sure why it does this....possibly because I lay completely still and don't move it.  (And never replace my pillows as as they say you should.)  The pain, and interruption of  my sleep, was annoying and unappreciated.

I finally went back to sleep for a bit and when I woke up the next time, I just felt at peace.  My neck was still a bit stiff (still is....15 hours later), but I felt good.  And happy.  And content.  And ready to start the day.  So I did.

I signed on to my work computer and my mind started thinking about all of the things I had to get done.  While the computer was booting up, I glanced at Facebook.  It was then I found out that my friend Dorothy's husband had been one of the people who was killed in the accident.

My stomach immediately did flips (the bad kind) and it seemed to cast a surreal pall over the day.  Not only was Dorothy's life forever changed, but our community was forever changed by the loss of this bear of a man who was bold and brave and a presence wherever he went.  Woody was a world changer...and kept fighting to change it more every day.....and our world is changed without him.

Our world was no less changed, I am sure, by the other lady killed in the accident, who was a 65-year old kindergarten assistant at the elementary school up the road.  Someone still spending much of her life impacting young children.

But...today our world was also changed by the birth of another friend's grandson Ryker.  And another friend who KNEW her grandchild was going to be a boy (because Ashleys always have boys!), found out she was going to have a granddaughter.  Both events made me smile.

Today we also celebrate the first birthday of Mason, a little boy who has fought and fought for life this year.  It's also my friend Brenda's birthday.  And yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of her death.

I worked, and accomplished and got through the day.  It was a horrible day.  It was a wonderful day.  It was a normal day.  It was a day that the world rotated on its axis, but maybe with a microscopic jerk or two.  Drama happening all around us.  Moments created we will never repeat, we will never get back.  Often we don't notice them because we're not looking around... we're stiff necked and moving creates pain so we don't move.  But we must.  Because as we continue to move, life continues to happen.  The drama of life is precious and worth experiencing and celebrating.  And our time on this earth is way, way too short.  Twist that neck and notice where you are needed now.  Don't waste a moment.

A Most Lovely Love Story

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."     
Psalm 139:13-16

Today is my friend Becky's birthday.  It is also the day that she buried her mother.

Becky was the youngest of four children and a "later in life" baby for her mom Rosa and her dad Guye.  When she was a teenager she made a commitment that if ever her parents were alone or in bad health, she would be their caregiver.  While a lot of teenaged promises are forgotten, Becky takes commitment seriously.  She remembered that commitment.  When her dad died and the time came, she packed up and moved from her home in Charlotte to her parent's house in her hometown.  For the past eight years she has been there, with a dedication that goes beyond what most of us can comprehend.  (Or maybe it is just selfish me that can't conceive of it.)

Becky's job is in Raleigh, which requires an hour and a half commute each way.  Add in work hours and that's a long day in itself.  Rosa has been in a skilled nursing facility for the past four years.  In this facility, there is about a 12-1 patient to caregiver ratio.  As Becky says, even with the absolute best caregivers out there, that ratio is not sufficient to give the kind of care these patients need.  So before her commute in the morning and after her commute in the evening, Becky would visit Rosa and make sure her needs were being met.  She would talk with her and try to keep her mind active.  When Rosa got so that making complete sentences on her own was difficult, she would finish those that Becky would start.  "See you later...." "....alligator."  "After a while..." "....crocodile."  "God is good....."  ".....all the time." 

Rosa's funeral was at Maple Springs United Methodist Church, a church Rosa's parents helped found.  She and Guye were pillars of that church.  They are both now buried in the cemetery on the church property.  Though Guye has been gone since 2004, he was very much a part of Rosa's funeral service.  Their lives were intertwined, their faith was intertwined, they were definitely two who became one that day they walked into town to get married all those years ago.  Their four children were with Rosa on the day she died and she held their hands and told them she loved them, and quietly slipped away to heaven.

We celebrated Rosa and Guye's lives today and we worshiped their God.  Afterwards some of Becky's friends walked over to the graveside with her, thanked God for Rosa and for Becky, then went to supper and celebrated Becky's birthday.  Some of us were strangers, some were old friends, but there was instant community.  All of us love Becky.  There was laughter, and maybe a few tears.  There was a lot of conversation....a lot of old stories.  A lot of discovery of each other.  There was talk of future fun.  There was the Happy Birthday song, a little cake and ice cream, and a candle blown out. (Twice.  Should have done it one more time so I got a picture of the lit candle.  I can be a bit slow on the draw.)

I am in awe of my friend Becky and her amazing sense of commitment to her mother, and her great gift of mercy.  I love the verse that speaks of God's knowledge of us before we were ever born.  He knew before Becky was conceived that October 6 would be the day Becky entered this world.  The days that were formed for her are not blank pages in his eyes.  He knew the content of every single one.  He knew that teenage commitment would mean eight years of total devotion and He knew that she could not do it without preparation.  Even with that preparation, there was great weariness and times she could do nothing but depend on Him to see her through.  She did and He did.
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 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  Lamentations 3:22-23 
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God did not forget that it was Becky's birthday this week....nor was it a coincidence that this was the week that her dear mother's spirit left this earth.  It was all allowed in God's perfect timing.  This is the birth of a new phase of Becky's life.  Once again, birthed by her mother with God's full knowledge.  As Becky's friend, as one of many who will be praying for her during this time, I look forward to see what God will do in her life next. Because she will be used by Him.  (And if one of my specific prayers is answered, she will also have some crazy fun and relaxation.)

Tonight at dinner we toasted Rosa's life with glasses of water.  It seems fitting for a lady who from all accounts lived her life purely and well.  Now as I write this, I would like to make another toast (or a prayer of sorts) to all of the caregivers out there.  Grab your glass and join me!  "To the caregivers, those by relation, by profession and by friendship.  May God grant you strength, peace, power and refreshment and may you not feel alone in your burden."  You are God's hands on earth.....and I salute you.  And I will pray for you.  You are not alone.
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"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail."  Isaiah 58:11

The Endless Feast

Day 15 in Proverbs 

Proverbs 15: 15-16 "The poor have a hard life, but being content is as good as an endless feast.  It's better to obey the Lord and have only a little, than to be very rich and terribly confused."

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More and more people are falling into poverty every day in our country.  The federal poverty level for a single person is $11,170.  Minimum wage in NC is $7.50 an hour.   With a 40-hour week, that would produce an annual income of $15,600 (providing you were paid for vacations and holidays.)  Still, how does a person live on that?  Rent, groceries, clothes, car, gas, insurance.  It doesn't stretch far.

When I was in my 20s, there were times that I was probably close to the poverty level (amount adjusted for way back then.)  $11,170 would have been a high salary for me when I was right out of college.  Can't remember what I made with my first job after college graduation.....but I worked for a children's home where room and board were included, so it wasn't even close to minimum wage.  Then my next job was paying claims in an insurance company and still in the 4 digits.  Somewhere in the neighborhood of 6k-8k a year.  (I had made more waitressing in college and working in the shipping department at Hunt for a summer!)  Funny to think about now.  And yep... that was poor even back then.  I always had a roommate.....and my friend Al will tell you how I went to their house almost every night for dinner.  He claims he could have claimed me on his taxes as a dependent.  He is almost right!  But then they had to go and move away from me (which I think was a move that Al got from my former college roommate, whose family once moved on her and didn't tell her the address), and my income assistance was gone.

Nevertheless, those were some of the greatest years of my life.  Most of my friends had no money....and it was a challenge to see how far we could stretch every dollar.  We were united in this goal.  This, of course, was before cell phones, so we had this list of phone numbers of singles from our church.  Once we decided what we were going to do, we'd start at the top of the list, work our way down, and call everyone.  (This may be why I hate phone calls now!)  Most things were planned at the last minute.  Anyone without plans was welcome to join us.  We traveled in a pack and most weekend nights there would be 20 or so of us to get together.  We were a community......we shared our meager stuff and did whatever we could to help out each other.  I don't even want to think about how many times I helped people move.  But they helped me, too....including once painting every room in a house my roommate and I were moving into and I didn't even lift a paintbrush (I am a very bad painter.....still.)

One of our favorite (and few) nights out in Greensboro during that time was dinner at YumYums and then a trip to the dollar movie (we had not just one, but two theaters to choose from!)  YumYums is a hot dog place in Greensboro.  The hot dogs were horrible.  The kind that would turn the water red if you boiled them.  (Nothing like JayBee's!!!!)  My friends didn't seem to care.  For some reason, some of them even loved them.  As for me, it was cheap and tolerable.  Throw enough mustard and slaw on there, and you barely can tell you have a yucky hot dog.  They had a very limited menu and everything was $1.  So, I would generally get a hot dog and an ice cream cone.  The ice cream was awesome.  Some would get a soft drink.  Usually in place of the ice cream.  Unless they really felt like being a big spender.  Not sure there was anything else offered for sale.  But for us, it was dinner out!  And most of us would only spend $2.  With movie, our evening's total would come to $3.  It doesn't even matter what the movie is.....when there are 20 of you there to watch it, you're going to have fun.  We called these the $3 date nights.

We'd get together for ballgames (on tv), for movie nights, and if Lisa Davis (now Friesen) or Nancy Pensyl (now Krehbiel) was cooking we'd even get to eat real food!  Really, really good food.   We'd have silly parties.  Lip syncing parties (where people would come dressed up and ready to perform acts.  Like the Supremes, the Beatles, and 60s girls bands.  I can still see some of those performances clearly.)  Nancy and I invited everyone to a pool party at our house once and not one person questioned the fact that we didn't have a pool.  I do believe that was one of our best parties ever (and I don't believe the kids even noticed their pools missing!) 

We'd do beach retreats for Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.  So finely tuned that we had a set menu and grocery list that we recycled time after time.   You knew on Saturday night you were going to eat shrimp, baked potatoes, salad and homemade Oreo ice cream.  We'd rent big houses, and people were sleeping everywhere.  We almost always felt there was room for one more.    Of course, one more meant one more to split the cost with....we loved one more!  Tons of fun.  Games on the beach.  Times of solitude and reflection, having church together.  And lots of spirited conversation and laughter.

Most of us were very poor....and we were very content.  Few that I hung out with during that time had more than two nickles to rub together, but happiness was everywhere.  Most of those people are still happy.  And while we have upgraded our stuff, most of us could easily slip back into that lifestyle.  Because the commonality was that we determinedly made a good life for ourselves.  We were going to be happy regardless of our circumstances.

I've always said that one of the greatest gifts is to be easily amused and easily contented.  I believe that life is an endless feast....and I am working to taste as much as possible.  I cannot imagine not living on a budget, since I have had to most of my life, but I accomplish a lot on that budget.  And if I had to, I could go back to living on minimum wage.  I would find a way to make it work.  And my life would be very good.

I know many people with lots of money, some with a moderate amount, some with none and others with less than none (major debt.)  Sometimes money and more stuff  just adds more complications. More layers of confusion.  But those who are content would be content with whatever amount of money they have.  How much they have doesn't matter.  It's all about how you deal with the party invitation. Those who are content know they are invited to the feast of life....and it is time to chow down.  They're going to enjoy the party.  And the best things in life are free.  Take it from someone who knows.  (Not that luxuries aren't nice, too!)


Note:  Speaking of chowing down, I will be on a cruise with my niece Maggie (celebrating her high school graduation) during the next week and will be unable to post to the blog.  I will continue to travel through Proverbs when I am away, and will hopefully have lots of blog material to catch up on when I get back!  In the meantime, keep reading the book!  And feel free to post your thoughts to me.

Graduating, Growing Up, and Becoming MacGyver

OK, here is what I remember about my high school graduation (North Iredell High School, Class of 1978.  Yeah....long time ago.....stuns me, too.)

• My friend Regina Bridges (Dawson) was salutatorian.  Sorry Regina, but I do not remember one word of your speech.  I am sure if we dug it out, though, we could find ways you inspired my life!  But let's face it.....you inspired my life more just by being my friend all of these years.  But you looked really good up there....I do remember that.
• It rained....or threatened to rain.....so we had to move the whole thing indoors.  Which meant that none of what we had rehearsed worked quite the same.
• While your row sat down, the row in back of you was filing out toward the stage.  Chris Rehardt was not behind me in rehearsal, but now inside was on that row.  He went by and as I was very daintily sitting down, he pulled my chair out from under me.  All of my stuff went flying.  I did not fall down (probably because we were so crammed in there, there was no room to fall.)  Still, I made a scene and Chris laughed all the way up to the stage and when he was getting his diploma.  I am glad someone was entertained.  (And OK....as much as a jerk he was, it was well timed.  I concede the point.)

College graduation (UNC-CH, Class of 1982) came and I did not want to go to the ceremony.  My mother insisted.....she said they had paid for my college, and by golly, they were going to see me graduate.  I am sure they probably regretted it since a Carolina graduation is a madhouse.  But thankfully they don't hand out diplomas.  I remember two things from this graduation.  One of my fellow RTVMP broadcast journalism majors was our class president.  Knowing him well, I did a lot of head shaking and eye rolling during his speech.  Won't go into why, but probably did impact my feelings of politicians.  The only other thing I remembered was the bottles of champagne coming down the rows.  Our own little communion.  When you are a proud graduate of the School of Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures (now defunct), you start preparing for real life even during the ceremony.  (Note:  I was a broadcast journalism major.....which, of course, is a slight bit classier the other RTVMP majors.  Shhhhh.... don't tell anyone I said that.)

I also remember running into my favorite professor on our walk through campus after the ceremony.  He looked quite distinguished in his black faculty robe, and I shocked my mom when I took off running and essentially jumped in his arms and hugged him.  Evidently they don't do that sort of thing with teachers in Wales.  He was my tough as nails editing teacher in the Journalism school.....and he succeeded in finally teaching me how to learn to spell the word "license."  He had claimed I could spell it any way but the right one.  He was what all people should be as teachers....devoted to making sure you got it right, encouraging but also disappointed when you weren't living up to your potential, and a real guy who also shared his real life with us.  He had exceptional skills as a journalist.....and he wanted us to be even better than him.  (Yea for Mr. Raleigh Mann!) 

In between then and now I have attended way too many graduation ceremonies.  You really don't have to invite me to yours.  I will be happy to just attend the party or celebrate later...or even not at all!  Most are horrid and meaningless.  Let's be honest.

I was so happy today that North Iredell seems to have mastered the graduation.  It's early morning, so you aren't there in the worst of the heat and you still have time afterwards for your day.  It gives kids times to celebrate a bit, but then hit the road for the beach and arrive in daylight.  The ceremony was about as short as it could be, but almost exclusively about the kids and not some long-winded faculty member.  And it was in many ways simply a celebration for a bunch of good kids....who I think are going to do great things for our world.  A meaningful graduation.

So since they didn't ask me to give a speech, at either NIHS or Carolina, here are a few words of advice for the great graduates of 2012 (and anyone else who may need to have a little mental graduation of their own!):

• Keep the optimism, keep the joy.  People will try to steal it from you, and things will happen to make you think life isn't that great, but I promise you....it really, really is.  When life seems bad, regroup and refresh.  Take a look around you at the people who seem old (even those that are your age.)  They are generally the people who prefer to lead with pessimism.  Don't let them impact you.  Avoid them if necessary.  Hang as much as possible with the people who find reasons to smile at life.  But not those who fake smile.  They should annoy you.
• Be bold.  Go for all of the good things the world has to offer you.  When you feel like hanging back remember this verse  "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Tim. 1:7.   Focus not on the desire to hang back, but focus on those gifts of power, love, and self-discipline.  Much can come from putting them into action.  They are the answer to a lot of the questions in life.
• Explore the nouns of the world - The people, the places, the things....there is so much out there.  The nouns of the real world will bring you much pleasure.....and there are a lot out there to explore.
• Confront the negatives.  You will face what appear to be overwhelming obstacles.  Do not walk away.  Find a way around them, over them, or through them.  Be creative.  Be fearless.  Be smart.  When you win these battles, you will find they give you extra strength and confidence that will be useful as you attack the next negative.  And there will always be another negative!  
• Don't necessarily let your wrapping be a box.  Boxes are confining.  And require that you conform to them.  Sometimes they may be how you present yourself, because sometimes it pays to appear normal and respect the rules and convention.  But sometimes you need to pop out of a gift bag and surprise people with who you are and who you can be.  Other times you have to wrap yourself in cellophane so people can see the gift you are without having to unwrap it.  Whichever form you take, be a beautiful package.  Make it your goal to be a gift to the world.....whether people notice it or not.
• Develop your character.  I won't ever tell you that it doesn't matter what people think about you, because frankly it does.  Still, the person you are when no one is looking is where your character is found.  That is actually what defines who you are.  Hit the fender of someone's car in a parking lot?  Don't just drive away.  The boss isn't around at work?  Work hard anyway.  Have the opportunity to cheat at something and never get caught?  Don't do it.  Character building is a lifelong discipline....but it's like an exercise.  If you start now, and make it part of who you are, your strength of character will be of Olympic proportions one day.  Let that be a goal.
• Watch your money.  My prayer for you is that you have to work hard for every dollar and get to know the value of working for everything you have.  So many kids today never seem to have to do that and I feel they are being shortchanged.  The truth is that you deserve nothing you haven't worked for.  And sometimes you need to work for free.  There is great value in hard work.   So work hard.  Make your own money....and use it for good things.
• Care about debt.  I'd say that a good plan is to not spend anything you haven't already earned.  But if you must borrow money, pay it back.  I don't care if you borrowed it from your parents, family members, a friend, a stranger, a credit card company, a business, someone with tons of money to spare, or someone you have lost track of....find a way to pay it back.  We've become careless with debt and even your own country buys things it doesn't have the money for.  Be a good example to our government and everyone else in our world.  Always think of interest as your rental fee for money....and fully check out the full cost of that rental before you enter that arrangement.  But once you do....pay what you agreed.  Even if you didn't know what you were getting into in the first place.
• Don't make excuses.  There will always be someone to blame.  Just don't.  Accept responsibility for your actions and be strong enough to see that your decisions lead to your consequences.  Don't bore people with the details.
• Take care of your body.  You know more about health and fitness than any other generation that has come before you.  Don't be stupid.  Cherish that body you have been given and keep it healthy for the long term.  
• Build community.  You can struggle through life on your own, or you can realize you weren't placed on this earth in a bubble.  Life is more fun shared, and burdens are much easier.  Notice other people, and let them get to know you.  Volunteer to help others whenever you can.  Ask for help if you need it.  But often more valuable is to ask them to teach you how to do things in case you need to do it yourself in the future.
• Learn when to say no and when to say yes.  Little words that mean so very much.  Don't be a wimp.  Use them carefully!
• "Dance with the one who brung ya" - In other words, don't forget who you got you to this place.  Along the way in life there are people who invested in your life, be it family, friends, teachers and in some cases strangers.  When the bright and shiny new people come along, don't forget they are there. Most of all, though, you were created by God.  Don't forget Him.  Or if you haven't met yet, get to know Him.  Not as a friend of a friend, or as a friend of the family, but have your own relationship.  That's the only one that counts.

I wish I had been a bit more open to all of the possibilities of the world at both of my graduations.  I'm still learning.  I wish I would have thrown that cap up in the air a bit higher.....but I didn't want to lose the cap.  But maybe I should have.....because graduation in itself means little.  It is just a ceremony that says "You have earned a new tool.  You are MacGyver.  You may use this tool, or you may find something else that gets the job done better.  You are smart.  You are savy.  You are the star of your own show.  But your show can be cancelled at any time, so work as hard as you can so that when it is over, you can look back at it and have it be something that makes you proud."  (And yes, dear graduates, I understand that you may not know MacGyver.  That is your next assignment.  Talk to the old people or look him up on Youtube!  And yes, he was cute.  But he was better than that....he was smart and useful and looked out for the needs of others!)