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Graduation
Inspiration
“The blessing of graduation means greater freedom to grow into the person we were always intended to become. Parents and grandparents will always have a role — to support, to nurture, to guide. But with each graduation a step is taken towards following something like an inner voice rather than outer one.”
Prayer
A [college] graduation may mark the finite end of [college],
but it is just one of infinite points along the continuum of life-long learning:
a learning that lasts our whole lives,
and, by giving our lives meaning,
expands our lives—
as Proverbs says:
“For, through wisdom your days will increase,
and years will be added to your life.”
May your graduation mark both our completion of [college],
and the continuation of our pursuits of wisdom.
Amen.
Rabbi Jonah Rank
Text
Numbers 6:24-26
May God bless you and protect you!
May God deal kindly and graciously with you!
May God bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!
Jeremiah 29:11
For I am mindful of the plans I have made concerning you – declares God – plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a hopeful future.
Deuteronomy 32:7
Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of ages past;
Ask your parents, they will inform you,
Your elders, they will tell you.
Poem
from HeyNowNow
Be who you are, nothing more, nothing less.
And let the beauty that you love be the very best.
Sing praises to the highest with your feet on the ground.
And reach for your brothers with the words that you sound.
And, don’t let mistakes be so monumental, and
don’t let your love be so confidential, and
don’t let your mind be so darn judgmental. And,
please let your heart be more influential.”
Michael Franti
For Graduation [Bolinas, 1972]
Round and round
again, and
up and down
again – always
these days do
go by, and
this one is yours
to go by.
This walking on
and on, this
going and coming – this morning
shines such lovely
light on
all of us.
We’re home.
Robert Creeley
Psalm
Psalm 20:1-6
For the leader. A psalm of David.
May God answer you in time of trouble,
the name of Jacob’s God keep you safe.
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
and sustain you from Zion.
May He receive the tokens of all your meal offerings, and approve your burnt offerings. Selah.
May He grant you your desire,
and fulfill your every plan.
May we shout for joy in your victory,
arrayed by standards in the name of our God.
May God fulfill your every wish.