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I recently attended a college graduation ceremony. This was a large university with a graduating class of around one thousand students. As they paraded across the stage, flashing wide smiles while receiving their diplomas, their names were read off. I was struck by the diversity of the class. There were whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Middle Easterners, Polynesians, Indians, young, old, male, female, pretty much every different kind of human being you could imagine.

They came from so many different backgrounds and cultures, yet when the group was officially declared graduated, they couldn’t stop hugging, high-fiving and celebrating each other. For this moment, there were no divisions, no hate, no inequality. They were bonded together by their achievement, and none of the divisive issues of our current world were going to steal their joy.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a glimpse at what God had in mind when he created our species.

I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that none of the figures in the bible have a last name. Surnames did not become common until around the eleventh century. In biblical times folks were differentiated by their fathers (Simon, son of Jonah), their hometown (Jesus of Nazareth), or their tribe (Aaron the Levite).

Most interesting to me was being identified by what you were known for, such as John the Baptist. If we still used that method today, what do you suppose you would be called? Would it be something positive? Would you be Sam the Hard Worker? Or maybe Jennifer the Unselfish? Frank the Fisherman? Cindy the Servant Heart?

It’s something to ponder. What is your legacy? I’m afraid I might be Ken the Napper, or Ken the Eater of Sweets. Thank goodness for surnames.

As I write this, an entire community is praying for the grandson of our friends. An eight year old boy who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He has undergone surgery and any number of procedures and tests. As of this writing, his prognosis had not yet been determined.

It’s not anybody’s fault. It just happened. So where do you turn when there’s nothing you can do about it? This community is turning to prayer. When you are powerless to fix something yourself, you can give it to God. The family is, of course, hopeful and afraid, but they trust that God will bring about the outcome that fulfils His will. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.

When you have nowhere else to turn, turn toward Him. He is able when we are not.

When our kids were little, my wife Sharon was constantly taking pictures of them. She snapped photos of them eating, running, laughing, at school, at church, at the library, at the beach, everything and everywhere. I remember thinking “what are we going to do with all these pictures?” She worked hard organizing scrapbooks for each child, dating and identifying the circumstances. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth the effort.

Now, forty years later, I get it. I treasure those photos. They chronicle an exhausting but magical time of our lives. Sharon was storing up good memories back then that she knew would reward us later.

Kind of like the way living a godly life can store up eternal rewards in the future. I’d love to see God’s scrapbook one day.

Nearly every famous TV character had a sidekick. That one figure that was with the hero through thick and thin, always in support, but never quite receiving the same attention or credit. The Lone Ranger had Tonto. Batman had Robin. Lucy Ricardo had Ethyl Mertz. Fred Flintstone had Barney Rubble. Andy Taylor had Barney Fife.

It takes loyalty, humility and trust to be a sidekick. Someone who gets genuine joy by helping others achieve happiness. Someone who doesn’t care if the spotlight shines brightly on the other person, leaving them in the dark. A true sidekick’s reward will be in eternity.

Be the Robin to somebody’s Batman. God knows who the real stars are.

There is a small crepe myrtle tree outside the window of my home office. The other day I watched a bird build a nest in it. I was impressed at how patient and hard working she was. One twig at a time. Later that day a strong wind and rainstorm kicked up and destroyed much of her work. Undaunted, she began again, hunting for a twig, bringing it to the nest, and twisting it into place. She had a mission, a purpose, a job to do. Something she was meant for. She would lay her eggs there and do her part for the next generation.

I couldn’t help thinking, if only all of us had that kind of clear definition as to our purpose, our mission on this earth. And what incredible things we could accomplish if we all worked relentlessly toward the goal. When adversity strikes, we could find the strength to just pick ourselves up and keep going.

The power is out there. We just need to ask for it.

Recently we took our two oldest grandchildren to a local carnival. They had begged us to take them but we were hesitant because of the cost. When we got there, all I could see were the signs listing the prices. Twenty dollars for wrist bands for the rides. Five dollars for the ring toss games. Eight dollars for lemonade.

I was so focused on the expense, I almost missed the joy on the faces of my little buddies as they gleefully skipped across the grounds, climbed on the rides and won a couple of little teddy bears which they cherished playing games. As we took them home they gave us a big hug and thanked us for bringing them. That was a wonderful moment.

You can’t go through life worried about the negative. If you do, you’ll miss the positive.

When I was a teenager we used to go to the roller skating rink, where they had something they called a spotlight skate. The boys would skate in a circle while the girls would gather in the center. Each girl would tell the usher which boy she wanted to skate with, and the usher would then shine a flashlight on the chosen one. She would then join the boy and skate with him during the next song. They would do three or four spotlight skates every night.

Of course, some boys were more popular than others and skated with several different partners. Others, like me, seldom enjoyed the glow of the flashlight beam. Feeling left out can be devastating, and it doesn’t change when we grow into adulthood. As you go about your life, be aware of people who seem to be left out or unincluded in an activity or a conversation. Make it a point to shine your light on them.

I guarantee it will brighten their day.

There’s nothing wrong with getting mad, as long as you are mad about the right things. Even God is described at times in the bible as being angry, jealous and vengeful. He got mad about evil, and people who live their lives full of self gratification and indifference to others.

So get mad about immorality, hypocrisy, dishonesty, betrayal and insincerity. Getting angry usually brings about passion. Passion for the right cause is a good thing. Just make sure it drives you to being more steadfast in your determination to make good decisions and to set a good example.

And don’t take your anger out on folks who don’t deserve it.

If you exercise your legs, but never work your upper body, your arms and shoulders will become weak. If you pump iron but never work your abdomen, your stomach muscles will atrophy. If you exercise like a demon, but never brush your teeth, they will decay. All of your body has to be in good working shape, because any weakness causes pain across all of you.

The body of Christ works that way. We’re only as effective as our weakest link. Don’t be the problem that causes pain. It’s called a Christian “walk” for a reason. It’s an action. The more you participate in it, the better and stronger you will become at it.

And the world gets in a little bit better shape.