n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 3
Almost any quality you have
will be a strength in some settings
and a weakness in others. Perhaps
you have had experience with
this phenomenon. Part of the
reason this happens relates to a
fundamental idea in New Church
thought.
Our mind exists in a
spiritual envi ronment with both
malevolent and wise influences.
Part of the malevolent force’s
effect is to have us react to things
in our lives in non-constructive,
even directly destructive, ways. So
while perseverance and patience
can be great strengths, when they
get hooked to the task of making a square peg go through a round hole, we can
keep pushing harder long after we could have realized we needed a different
approach. More of the same patience and perseverance in this task is not going
to lead to success.
As you reflect on the next stage of your life, I suspect you are aware of how
little you know about what effects your career and life choices will have. We
have been hearing for decades now that the pace of change means that aspects
of what you may be doing in a decade or two have not been invented yet.
How are you to handle all this change? My suggestion is, “Pick a direction
and head there until it stops making sense, and from that vantage point pick a
new direction.” This is the way the Lord can lead each of you toward a better
future than you could ever envision.
Another way of seeing change is to realize that while external circumstance,
technology, communication and travel may change, the fundamental issues we
face as human beings are not much different from 100 years ago, 1,000 years
ago, even tens of thousands of years ago. While some of your grandparents
may be baffled by technology, they may also have wisdom about living that is
well worth listening to.
Here you are at your graduation. You can look backward on who you have
been and how your education and other experiences have helped form you as a
unique human being, and you can look forward. I wonder what you are going
to bring to the next stage of your life.
Here are some things I wish for you.
I hope that the people who get to know you in the coming years see you
Do you recognize how
(Bryn Athyn College) has
challenged you to develop a
spiritual purpose, to think
broadly and critically from
a variety of perspectives,
and to build intellectual
and practical skills? Do you
feel prepared to make a
difference in the world?
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