Friday night, as I sat with the Held family at Belmont University’s December graduation, waiting for the moment to see Layne Held walk across the stage to receive her undergraduate diploma, I waited paitently while person after person stood up, their name announced, their reception of his or her diploma, and their brisk walk back to their seats.
But before the hand out of the diplomas began, a few speakers, including two deans, the president, and two students spoke. I enjoyed each of their contributions to the night’s event. From prayers to Bible verses to words of encouragement–each individual came together to create an encouraging and celebatory evening.
When it was the dean of student’s turn to step up the podium, he quoted a poet who asked the question, “what are you doing with your one life?” a few months ago on this very campus.
While I sat mostly quietly, other than to laugh or chat with Mr. Ron Held a bit, I began to think about not only life, but death. At my age, I try to balance between knowing that there is so much more out there to love, experience, know, and be a part of than I can imagine and living in the moment. I don’t want to live like I were dying (per a Tim McGraw song), but I also don’t want to exclusively live for the day (per a Ray LaMontangue song.)
There is a balance I seek. Between being prepared for the future and living life to the max, whatever God brings.
But ultimately, what God brings seems to be almost as equally important as how my life answers the question the poet asked a few months ago. “What are you going to do with your one life?” For me, the next step is The World Race. But after that, I truly do not know. I have ideas of grad school, which were brought up when Jenni Shaver and I met up at Frothy Monkey earlier today, but I know that even though I do not know what I will do after I get back to the States next November, I do know that I will not waste this one life I have been blessed with.
