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A graduate's prayer
One of the most pressing questions at the forefront of an about-to-be-a-college-graduate’s thought, whether they have a next step outlined or not, is, “What am I going to do with my life?” And along with that question come the follow-ups: “Am I going to have a fulfilling life? Am I going to make a difference in the world?”
Having just graduated from college earlier this year, I know how these questions tend to hang around as graduation comes and goes. Parents, relatives, friends, and colleagues inquire about your next steps as senior year winds down and the day you walk across the stage gets closer. Some graduates love hearing this question because they have the next step outlined and are excited to share their plans to go to grad school, start a new job, move to a new city, travel abroad, or even spend the summer as a camp counselor before diving into the “real world.” Others dread this question because they don’t know what the next step is and maybe feel embarrassed about not having what are perceived as noble plans ahead of them. When I was asked the question, I would tell people that I had plans to spend the summer with my parents in Connecticut before moving to California at the end of the summer, and would be devoting myself to my practice of Christian Science.
One of the first things I realized as I prayed about my next steps was that those who ask questions about the future aren’t there to judge whether or not you’ve got a bright or an uncertain path ahead of you. They ask out of love and compassion, wanting to know that you’re supplied and have an exciting path ahead of you. And you do. But that promise doesn’t come from acceptance into grad school, a job offer, or even returning to your parent’s house. That promise comes from God.
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