LifeDate Fall 2024 – Hope and a Future
by Deaconess Janet Nicol
I am a fan of comedy. Especially sarcastic comedy. One of the kings of this genre is Jerry Seinfeld. He recently spoke at Duke University’s graduation ceremony and mentioned being sick of the phrase, “Follow your passion.” He said to let go of the idea that one thing is your passion and to make your best effort at anything. Making the effort even if it fails is worthwhile. He also said to pay attention and fall in love. He spoke about enjoying the richness of human life. It was a good speech. (You can find it on YouTube.)
I would like to add to Mr. Seinfeld’s speech another piece of good advice: Know who you are. For Christians, it is essential to participate in the richness of the human experience knowing that you are a child of God, baptized into Christ, redeemed through His saving grace, and called to love and serve each other. If you know this much, you will live life to the fullest.
Oh, and yes, it will be hard. I am not saying live YOUR best life. I am saying live THE best life IN CHRIST. One guided by truth, not by the misconstrued philosophies of our culture’s mindset: “Follow your heart because it knows best.” The truth is in the Word of God:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
So let go of the idea of your heart knowing things and open your ears, which are spiritually connected to your heart, to the Word of God, which will give you wisdom and strength to carry out your vocations in life. The Word in Jeremiah 17:10 says:
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
We face many challenges in life, and they are all meant to bring us closer to Him who gives life to the fullest. It is the work of Satan to attempt to kill that life. John 10:10 tells us:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Live abundantly, friends, graduates, loved ones, and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! Know who you are and to whom you belong. Amen.