Reflections

Having been blessed with three children and nine grandchildren, Michael and I have been to a good number of graduation ceremonies: Glenbard High School, Wittenberg University, North Park University, Purdue U., Andrean High School, Hope College, University of North Carolina, and -- on five different occasions -- Chesterton High School graduations.

Last week, we attended the graduation of our grandson Nate Becker from Chesterton High School. It was a lovely evening with clear skies and cool weather as we attached our stadium seats to the bleachers. The order of the program has become quite familiar to us. The long procession of students from the school to their seats on the field accompanied by the music of Pomp and Circumstance played admirably by the school Band. The familiar series of addresses by faculty, students and administrators. The walk of students across the stage to receive a mock diploma. 

From my view in the bleachers, the students seated on the field were indistinguishable. According to the program, there were six hundred or so young adults on the field, but all I could see was a mass of maroon gowns and mortarboards.  Other than Nate and a few of his friends I did not know anyone’s name. 

The way to follow the progress of the long procession of diploma presentations was to follow the names printed in the program in alphabetical order -- all six hundred plus -- almost all of them strangers to me.

Yet, as each of the names was announced a spirited shout and applause rang out from somewhere in the crowd gathered in the bleachers. Somebody -- some group -- some family -- knew the name of each one of those students. Somebody had come to cheer and honor each one. Some had come with flowers. Most had come with love and pride. For some in the crowd at least one of those parts of the massive group was special, was known, was loved.

Being known by our name is deeply meaningful to us.

The prophet Isaiah, speaking the words of the Lord said, “I have engraved you on the palm of my hand.” [49.16].

The Lord knows each of us by name, has in fact metaphorically tattooed our names on God’s hand! We are known and loved by God as individuals.

Jesus compares God to a good shepherd who knows the names of each one of God’s flock, “the sheep hear his voice and he calls his sheep by name.” [John 10.3].

In the news media there are often photos of large masses of people -- Immigrants gathering at the border, refugees in tent cities in Syria, crowds at sporting events and political rallies, long lines of fans waiting for concert tickets. The news focus is usually on the large number of people in the group. But the truth is that each one of the people in each group has a story, a history, a name. A name that is not only known by God but is so loved that it is tattooed on God’s hand! 

A teacher who had a great influence on me once said that a person should read Psalm 139 every day to remember how precious each one of us is in the sight of the one who created the universe.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I arise. …

You beset me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high, I cannot attain it!

Getting back to the ceremony at Chesterton High, I know that God’s love for Nate is even more than my own human, flawed love. And I really love Nate a lot -- as much as a mere mortal can love. 

Then there is God’s love for all the other students on the field, and the people in the bleachers and in all the other graduations going on this month in Porter County and all across the nation. And A LOT more people around the world.  All the millions and billions of people God created in God’s image! God knows their name! Wow! Amazing!

That certainly stretches my mind far beyond what it is capable of knowing or understanding! How is that even possible?

So, I have to just lean on the words of the Psalmist: 

  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

 It is high, I cannot attain it. -Psalm 139.8

Thanks be to God for his amazing love!

Pastor Nancy Becker

Parish Associate