Seniors 2020-Congratulations!

Seniors 2020, Congratulations on completing your high school career!!! I know it is not ending the way you imagined it, but you should be proud of your achievement and the lack of a formal graduation ceremony does not diminish your accomplishments. The Class of 2020 is one of a kind. The Bethany graduating seniors were born and grew up in different cities, attended numerous different high schools, and were involved in lots of different activities and clubs. Graduates include musicians, athletes, artists, national honor society members, and members of lots of different clubs and student organizations. Collectively, you represent a great group of young Christian men and women. All of Bethany is proud of you! You should be proud of yourself.

Some of you will attend colleges or universities in or around Austin, in other parts of the state, or out of state. Some may attend technical school or start in the workforce. Some may have other plans. Ultimately, all of you will be forging your own path.

The great baseball philosopher Yogi Berra once said: “when you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Funny thought, but very profound. Each of you are at a fork. Take the fork and be confident in the path you are taking. It does not mean you cannot take a different fork later on because life presents lots of forks in the road. But be assertive and confident that the direction you have chosen is the right one for you.

You may have heard people talk about these being uncertain times. I disagree. They may be difficult or uneasy time, but they are not uncertain. We are certain we will return to normalcy at some point in the future. We are certain that God loves each of us. [As an aside, I do not know about you, but I feel stronger to Christ when I am helping others. If you are the same, find ways to allocate time to help others.] Additionally, I am certain each of you will find a successful path in your life. It will not be easy sometimes and you will be faced with adversity. But, you will persevere and shine.

Be confident in yourself and always strive to learn new things. As St. Frances of Assisi once said: “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Graduates of 2020, go ahead and take a virtual bow – you have earned it!

Blessings,
Paul