04/28/2026
We call it Commencement for a reason.
Because what we witnessed last night wasnât an ending; it was the beginning of something new.
New direction.
New purpose.
A new life unfolding.
The men and women who stood on that stage have walked through hard things to get here. And now, they step forward, not finished, but changed, and moving ahead with purpose.
As John Bunyan writes in The Pilgrimâs Progress:
âNow I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation. Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back. He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a cross...So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble...Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, âHe hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.â Then he stood still a while, to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden...Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing.â
There was joy in the room last night. Not because the journey is over, but because it has truly begun.
