Isaac graduating from college

I find it hard to believe that our little boy is graduating from college tomorrow. How time does fly. It seems just yesterday he was in the hospital struggling just to breathe. It was actually around the time this picture was taken that his mother and I gave our lives to Christ. We realized there were simply too many things beyond our control, and we needed to place our trust and hope in someone greater than us. Interestingly enough, this was also when we decided to quit smoking - because of Isaac's breathing problems. So it's odd that he would be the smoker (at least until he wises up and quits too, but that's another story ;)).

So, anyway, today I have been reminiscing about when we took him down to Anderson University to start college. I wrote about that HERE (Gee, Jane's hair was pretty long then). He and Graham moved into a dorm room together, and aside from a couple summers they have lived together all four years: the dorm two years, campus apartment, and now the Milton house. So this week will be a change for them as they go their separate ways (though they're both staying in Anderson).

At any rate, it has been interesting to see the boy grow and become. In reading back through my blog archives, I was apparently reading Shane Claiborne's book 'The Irresistible Revolution' when Isaac started college. Shane has a good quote about when he graduated. He filled out all his graduation forms as "vocational lover." He said:

...folks were asking me what I was going to do when I graduated from college. People always want to define you by what you do. I started by saying, 'I'm not too concerned with what I am going to do. I am more interested in who I am becoming. I want to be a lover of God and people... The question is not whether you will be a doctor or a lawyer, but what kind of doctor or lawyer will you be?'

Yeah... as Mother Teresa said, "Do not worry about your career. Concern yourself with your vocation, and that is to be lovers of Jesus." Sounds like pretty good advice to me - vocational lover.

I think another good bit of graduation advice was some given to Shane by a professor (also in Irresistible Revolution):

"Don't let the world steal your soul. Being a Christian is about choosing Jesus and deciding to do something incredibly daring with your life."

So, it seems rather fitting that Shane was there at the beginning of this college experience, and considering Isaac's plans now - with the Exodus House - he seems to have rubbed off nicely and his ideals have stuck around. I'm good with that, and couldn't be prouder of my boy. But I don't want to be the one to say, "Well done"... I will leave that to the Big Daddy. But I hope you know that you have done extremely well in my eyes, son.

I thought it only appropriate too that my morning devotions took me to Psalm 138:8 today...

Your love never fails.
You have made us what we are.
Don't give up on us now!

That is my prayer for my boy and all his friends. Tomorrow will be a special day, for a bunch of special people. I am thankful to get to be along for the ride. Don't give up on them now, Lord.

Peace out; and in.