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Sunday, June 13, 2010
This morning, we observe a wonderful Westchester Lutheran
tradition, Eighth Grade Recognition Sunday. For the
congregation, it’s an opportunity to marvel as these bright
young people share with us their excitement about graduating
Thursday. For the students, it begins a week of celebrating
their accomplishments, honoring their dreams – and having to
stand before us while we gaze at them, take pictures of
them, and expect great things of them.
While we look forward to hearing them tell us about the
years they’ve spent here and what they’ve learned, we know
it isn’t easy to speak your heart when all eyes are on you.
In those anxious moments, we tend to focus on the worry of
not finding the right words and to lose the joy of sharing
our feelings with people who love and support us.
But as people of God, we need to remember that while eyes
may be on us, our eyes should be on Him. It is when we
allow our gaze to turn inward that we stumble from His path,
and then do and say the wrong thing. When our eyes are on
Him, we see our way clearly, and our hearts and hands are
filled with love and eager for service in His name.
So the next time we feel we are on the spot, let’s
remember that we are! As Christians, we stand on the spot
where Christ gave His life for us. Rooted in that miracle
of grace, we are strong and determined and, most
importantly, saved. And when we feel that people’s eyes are
on us, we have a choice about what they see: They can see us
in our human frailty or they can see Christ shining through
us. Let us choose to stand proudly in His light and in His
name. And let us pray that this year’s graduates will go
forward in that same way, today and always.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a
hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and
put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and
it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
