Commencement

“The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”

–     Unattributed

Sure, we could have gone with “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end,” from Seneca, the Roman philosopher, or from Semisonic, the one-hit-wonder band that recorded “Closing Time.”

Or, we could have gone with Buddah’s assurance that the key to traversing the “road to truth” is to first begin along it’s path.

So, with all that in mind, in this season of “Commencement,” which dictionaries define as a noun, today’s DD will focus on commencement as if it were a verb.

The act of deciding to not stay where we are.

Seems simplistic, and, of course, it is.

But there is a difference between deciding and committing — just as there is a difference between committing and commencing.

Oswald Chambers’ June 11th entry in My Utmost For His Highest refers to being “stayed by the perfection of vital activity.”  He makes that claim in reference to God providing us “rest.”  And, while the concepts of “rest” and “vital activity” might seem to be in conflict with one another, there is a beautiful simplicity in the claim.

If we are commencing on that which is vital to move us from where we are to where we want to be, there must surely be peace in that commencement.

Graduates are encouraged by speakers to create the future.  At The Middle’s 5th Grade Graduation “Commencement” last week, the kids were reminded of all the changes ahead — biological, educational and otherwise.  On campuses across the land, graduates are celebrating their commencements.

As we graduate from where we are to where we want to be, the commencing, committing and focus on vital activity will be key to the directness and success of our journey.