GRADUATES: ONE MORE “FINAL EXAM”
Graduation is a time for celebration and fun. It's also a time for looking ahead . . . maybe even so far into the future that you envision yourself preparing to depart this world and are asking "did my life count?" and "did I really know what matters in life?"
To whom does one turn to find the answer to these all important questions? We decided to ask a group of people who are uniquely qualified for their advice. Interviews with 104 people in the Alive Hospice program yielded some profound advice and powerful stories. For example, there was the ninety-eight year old man who was learning Hungarian. The fact that he only had a few weeks to live didn't discourage him, but rather served as motivation to stop putting it off. There was Beverly, who sold some stock that most assumed would be her children's inheritance, and rented a huge beach house so that she and her husband, children, and grandchildren could make another week of memories. And, there was five-year old Maddie who reminded us that we're surrounded by joy when she said "When the sun is out there, I'm happy!"
Even as they were dying these hospice clients taught us a lot about living. They spoke of reconciliation, forgiveness, loving, and the ultimate value of relationships with people and with God. They gave us advice on how to live a life of no regrets.
They also reminded us that even though we've graduated, we still have one more "final exam" to take before the "final graduation." And, I'm sorry to say, this will not be an easy exam. It will cover every aspect of your life - everything is on the test. It also will not be a true-false or multiple choice exam, but rather an essay test that requires critical thinking skills.
On the other hand, there are some appealing aspects to this test. It is an open book exam and you may use every resource available to develop your answers. You can even look at the work of someone else or ask for their help. As you take the exam you may continue to learn from your experience. And, you can change your answers as you go, even though for some strange reason, maybe pride and arrogance, few test takers take advantage of this feature of the exam.
A significant paradox in the instructions is that there is no announced time limit for taking the exam-you can take all the time you have. But time will expire; we just can't tell you when. And when time does expire, you must turn in your test and depart immediately. The test will be expertly graded on a pass or fail basis and there are no re-takes of the exam and there is no appealing the judgment.
Are you ready?
Are you sure?
Pencils up…
BEGIN!
And happy graduation!
Success on this test can be achieved by all without regard to race, wealth, social status, religion or golf handicap.
Copyright © 2008 by Bob and Judy Fisher