They were a small group, just five in number, but it was an honor to speak at their graduation. My talk was short–only two quick points–in hopes they would remember.
Point one: Your futures will brim with intense new challenges. When physical, spiritual, and emotional crises arise, you must remember that God has not forgotten your needs.
Point two: You must strive to mark others' lives for good.
To illustrate point two, I mentioned particular ways each graduate had unknowingly left a mark for good upon my life. Parents' ears pricked up like antennas to detect what might be said about their children. Specific examples were of more interest than any speech:
"Though I don't know Jordan Camp personally, I've watched him play basketball. His actions demonstrate that he is hardworking and diligent, that he knows how to overlook wrongs done to him on the court, and that he has learned to take defeat gracefully. Jordan's sportsmanlike conduct has marked me for good."
"Ever since he was a little boy, Wesley Hill has been keenly interested in the Passion Play in Eureka Springs. He has built models and has acted out the scenes so often that the passion of Christ has become Wesley's passion. Wesley's pursuit of spiritual goals has marked me for good."
"I've had occasion to work with Mandy Bearden as she edits a newsletter for the girls of our church. In that role, she has encountered situations where it would have been easy to offend others. But Mandy's love, discretion, and discernment in working through the challenges have marked me for good."
"Andrew Booth is a helper who willingly rushes to the aid of others. Many times over the past weeks he has dropped his own important work to help my son out of one jam after another. Andrew's generous servant spirit has marked me for good."
"Luke Stanton is creative, sensitive, and artistic. But whenever I have commended him for his accomplishments, he has quickly pointed out that his parents and God deserve the praise for his successes. Luke's gentle, humble spirit has marked me for good."
Wherever these young people go and whatever they do, others will be watching… and remembering. Those memories will endure as each word, deed, and attitude leaves indelible marks upon someone else's heart. May all those marks be for good.
THE MARKS UPON THE WALL
With brush in hand, a room to paint,
Briefly I did hesitate
To see inscribed with childish scrawl,
Some penciled marks upon a wall.
And though my strokes removed each trace,
From my mind was not erased
The child who made them, grown today,
But in those marks was still at play.
As precious memories flooded by,
Each relived in my mind's eye,
It seemed to me that after all,
We each leave marks upon some wall.
When my life's canvas is wiped clean —
My time here then but a dream —
Will I have left some worthy marks
Upon the walls of others' hearts?
Copyright 2000 James McAlister
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