Age 18

The Cycle of Graduation

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Humbly we approach the end or an original part oddly finally over 

Hang up the solidarity as directed paths play out essential opportunity

To be in a new place errantly apathetic to old haunts and attachments

Elegant edifices occasionally stir the somewhere or sometime thoughts

Of pedagogy gone by as we ponder all that predictably passed in time

Pent up frustrations, successes, deserved accolades now released

And we near the tip of this pinnacle and unsaid somethings dissolve

While we emerge anew ruefully aware perhaps we are ascending 

another singular summit still, thereby harboring thoughts of work ahead

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The Dream of Forgiveness

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Listen closely to the story of Joseph, a man who overcame strife

The Book of Genesis tells of opportunity arising early in his life

The favorite son of Jacob and the eleventh of twelve hardy sons

Given a special coat of many colors by his father, no usual one

He was intrinsically a dreamer with vivid dreams that clearly laid out

His future of directed promise as he arose with metaphorical clout

 

But alas, his jealous brothers sought to preemptively end his reign

Took him, sold him tragically as a slave which sadly created a stain

On the beautiful multicolored coat also ripped to shreds they lied 

attacked by a wild animal, they told his father, he so bravely died

The bold and resourceful Joseph did not fret then slowly wither away

Instead he used his gifts from God to guide his path and point the way

 

The connections Joseph made along the road to Egypt served him well

Eventually his interpretations of the dreams of Pharaoh he could tell

Meant a bountiful harvest followed by famine, seven years apiece

Storage in times of plenty would essentially keep them fed at least

So impressed with the amazing skills of Joseph and his future plans

Pharaoh hired him on the spot to serve as his second in command

 

A thorn of family angst painfully stuck in Joseph's side, bearing wounds

Of anger and betrayal against his brothers, the lost family who assumed

Him dead and gone forever though he must now make amends and go

The way of goodness and forgiveness and save them from starvation woe

They came to Egypt to eat and bring food back to Canaan and their father

Joseph revealed his identity, took them all in, reuniting his family together

 

The story we have heard is long, winding, and radically rife with betrayal

Of the highest order from loved ones whose devotion really should prevail

Jesus met a similar betrayal from those closest to Him and also forgave

The upended friendships and divided paths that led Him to the grave

The strongest message in these parallel stories we can glean in our time

Is not to hold grudges, use our talents to their fullest, and live life divine