Graduates, there are so many things I want to say to you right now.  I want to tell you how blessed I feel to have known you, what amazing people you are and how you are going to make a difference in the world.  I want to tell you that I know God has a perfect plan for your lives, and no matter whether you feel absolutely clueless and lost upon graduating, or whether you are feeling assured and confident of what lies ahead, the Holy Father will take you, move you, and place you according to His gracious and perfect will.  I want to tell you my story, how I came to Montreat, how God has changed me, and how I have seen Him move in incredible ways – if I could just tell you about the past month!  But this is not a time for me, and I feel as though the entire commencement ceremony will be motivational and inspirational, aside from anything I may say.   Because I think there is a time and place for reflection, I am going to invite you – as graduates – to join me in considering the wonderful, crazy, and fun memories of our time here. 

Perhaps the strongest attribute of Montreat College is the sense of Christian community.  It is the main reason I came to  Montreat, and what I will miss the most upon leaving.  We are a family.  The students, faculty, staff, and community have played integral parts of our lives and served various roles in our intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and social maturity.  But this is no ordinary community!   I mean, let’s think about it: there’s a world-renowned English scholar who wears Chuck Taylors to class, an Assistant Dean and head of the Bible and Religion dept. who rides a motorcycle and volunteers the mite of time he still has at the local fire station; and a science professor who has been deemed the ‘perfect specimen of a man’ by his Modern and Secular Worldviews class (I know no one’s perfect, but really, I have yet to find a fault).  There is a history genius who sold the rights to one of his novels to Tom Cruise’s production company.  This same man dons the unmistakable remains of a dead marmot on his head to keep warm during the winter; Who can forget the instructor of Business and natural comedian whose incredibly contagious laugh, smile, and stomping foot can be heard from miles away?  There is a superman sitting among us who runs more in a week than I have run in my life.  This same man is the father of five children and has one on the way!  May I remind you of a psychology professor who is not only a powerhouse of knowledge, but has proven she knows how to move and groove at school dances; a science and math instructor who se sense of humor is so dry and intelligent, I’m convinced that if I were smart enough to understand him, I would have been laughing every second of his class; and then a chaplain who is more physically fit than any other man over 70 I have ever met.  Tarbell, you have a lot to live up to.  Not to mention, one of our deans and the Director of Admissions could be considered the modern-day LaVerne and Shirley.  And of course -- last but not least,-- only God could take a renowned officer in the army (oops, NAVY!) and turn him into the President of a small, community-oriented, liberal arts Christian College.  Family and friends, this is just a taste of the people with whom we are in contact every day.  Yet these are the ones who have thoroughly invested in our lives – taught us tidbits of their expanse of knowledge, delivered wake up calls when we accidentally slept in, met us for coffee at the local Dripolator, and counseled us when things seemed to be going haywire.  They selflessly gave despite what happened to be going on in their own lives. 

But certainly not least,  graduates, we have each other and all of the friends God has given us in our time here.  I know that in my life,  the girls I have met on the 4th floor of Anderson Hall have been my stronghold through every semester.  We have laughed, prayed, cried, held impromptu dance parties, pulled prank wars complete with toilet paper, whip cream, and cherries, and we have blindfolded friends on their birthdays.  Perhaps you have similar people in your lives.  And then there are those you met in classes.  I remember the first time I pulled an all-nighter– a classmate and I were working on papers and trudged through the night, French press coffee in hand, with Texas-Pete drizzled popcorn to munch on – yes, indeed, something you may only eat at 4:00 in the morning.   But this, graduates, is real community.  When will we ever again be in a place where all of our best friends will be a 2 second walk away at 2:00am?

I think the most important part of the community at Montreat is that, no matter how absolutely amazing or utterly painful it may seem at times, the Holy Spirit is among us.  We have lived, and will continue living as the Body of Christ.  Think about chapel services here – where I hope that you were able to freely worship, joining together in song, word, and reflection.  Drew Stewart will remain in my mind as a favorite to stand beside in chapel.  Ladies and gentlemen, this man cannot help but dance and sing with his whole heart, and simply standing next to Him makes me want to praise God!    At the end of every chapel, Bill Cain’s infamous words, “Will you please stand, and move together?” will echo in my mind as a vivid reminder that we – even if for a few moments – were truly one in Christ’s blood.

While none of us are perfect, and I am sure each of us has experienced some form of heartbreak at Montreat, take delight in the joy that God has given you here.  Look around – look in people’s eyes and strive to see the love of God that shines through.  Love people for who they are just as Christ has loved you and you have been loved at Montreat College.  Don’t let it stay here.  Take it with you in your life, work, and relationships– whether to a skyscraper in New York, the rolling hills of Windy Gap Young Life camp, or an inner-city classroom. 

Know that, above all, you are not simply a product of your experiences at Montreat, the family and friends who are here, the professors, or any of the faculty.  You are a product of the grace, love, and redemption of Jesus Christ who brought you here and gave you the opportunity to learn in a community that is devoted to His service.  When you exit the Montreat gate today, do not seek community itself, seek God.  For when you find God in the midst of a restless world, community such as you have experienced here is bound to appear.  Thank you, and once again, congratulations!  I pray that God will bless your every step as you continue in the adventure…