the academy journal
has happened at Bryn Athyn College and the rest
of the Academy over the past 7 years. But I am so
proud of what the faculty, administration, donors,
leadership, and students have accomplished. And
I hope that my service on the board and advice on
legal matters has helped.
In reading about good and truth, I looked at
Arcana Coelestia. In number 2258, Swedenborg
writes that Divine truth is judgment and Divine
good is mercy. Reading this took me back to liv-
ing in New York after 9/11. I was lucky—even
though my office was very near the World Trade
Center, I didn’t lose anyone I knew at the towers.
But it was still an unsettled, disturbed time for
the whole city. Like most New Yorkers, I wanted
there to be something I could do to help, but there
wasn’t really that much. I spent some time at the
big assistance center at pier 94, helping people fill
out requests for death certificates - I figured that
lawyers can help with forms, although I had sec-
ond thoughts when they told us during training
that we absolutely could not cry (“not crying” is
not really part of my core skill set). The assistance
center was an incredible example of what can hap-
pen when you combine good and truth--so many
people combining their love for their neighbors
and their knowledge of how to provide help cre-
ated an amazing resource for people.
Anyway, one of the things that was off-kilter
was that the subways weren’t running like usual,
and I ended up taking a car downtown much more
often than usual. And I would watch every time
for a certain synagogue on the upper west side. It
had the words of Micah 6:8 carved around the top
of the building. “What doth the Lord require of
you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with your God?” And, somehow, think-
ing about those words made the day, made the city,
seem less unsettled. Even when things have gone
very wrong, I believe that using truth and good to
walk humbly with your God will lead you to use
and happiness.
So here we are at commencement: the end of
one journey and the start of many others. You’re
heading off now to pursue further studies, start
new careers, and generally find your place in life.
My wish for you today is that in all those pursuits
you “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with
your God.” Congratulations to the Class of 2017!
Degrees and Awards Conferred
ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE RECIPIENTS
Gabrielle C. Anderson
Psychology Emphasis
East Landsdowne, Pennsylvania Julia Cooper
Pre-Nursing Emphasis
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
Amanda Bevan
Pre-Nursing Emphasis
Bensalem, Pennsylvania Julia Lee Ford
Education Emphasis
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Rachel Elizabeth Bostock
Psychology Emphasis
Treasure Island, Florida Steffi C. Linares Geronimo
Social Sciences Emphasis
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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