Billionaire Robert F. Smith promised to pay off the college debt of 400 seniors at Morehouse College, Atlanta, amounting to $40 million. All he asked in return was that they pay it forward.
I shared this lesson on generosity with a graduating class I addressed recently.听 I suggested that this was the fellow they should have asked to speak at their graduation.
We shared Acts 3:1-10 where Peter and John were going to the temple and met the lame man asking for help. Peter said, 鈥淚 have neither silver nor gold. But I will give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, walk!鈥�
I suggested that the churches in Canora had something greater to offer than money. Our prayer support will continue throughout their lives. And the exciting life Peter and John had, we too can have. God is calling all of us to serve as His disciples.
I shared this story: Timmy鈥檚 mother asked her neighbour Shirley Goodnest if she would follow him at a distance on his first days at school. Shirley agreed, since she went walking with her toddler anyway.
Later Timmy鈥檚 mother asked him how he enjoyed walking to school alone. 鈥淲ell I鈥檓 not really alone,鈥� he said. 鈥淪hirley Goodnest and her daughter are following me everyday.鈥�
鈥淒oes that bother you,鈥� asked the mother?
鈥淣o,鈥� said Timmy. 鈥淚t says in the Bible 鈥楽hirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow you all the days of your life.鈥� And I might as well get used to it.鈥�
鈥淭he prayer and support of your teachers, clergy, neighbours, and parents will continue through your life鈥檚 journey. Get used to it!鈥� I told them. God has also given us angels to be with us constantly. And God does not have any bad days. Think about that in a travel companion.
Daily introspection and prayer assist us on our journey. A Zen proverb says, 鈥淵ou should sit in meditation for 20 minutes every day, unless you鈥檙e too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.鈥�
My little checklist of advice to the grads included: don鈥檛 give up on your dreams. Sometimes they are fulfilled later in your life, God willing. Sometimes God comes up with a better plan.
Nourish your spiritual life.
A man walks into a doctor鈥檚 office with a carrot stuck in his ear and an asparagus spear dangling from his nostril. 鈥淒octor, I feel terrible,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 wrong with me?鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure,鈥� said the doctor, 鈥渂ut I can tell you鈥檙e not eating right.鈥�
Feed your spirit right. Never forget your family, your church, your teachers, your community and the values they have imparted to you. Continue nourishing your spiritual roots, your values.
Be concerned about your inner beauty.
We get more beautiful as we get older. Just look at your parents and grandparents.
听
A little boy was feeling down about his freckles. Grandma came to the rescue. 鈥淚 like freckles,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hy, tell me one thing that is more beautiful than freckles.鈥�
The boy looked at his grandmother for a moment and said, 鈥淚 know one thing more beautiful, Grandma, wrinkles.鈥�
I shared a few inspirational quotes:
鈥淒on鈥檛 judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant,鈥� Robert Louis Stevenson.
If you pursue your passionate interests and make a career of them, you may never have to work a day in your life.
