DHS Baccalaureate 2010

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[<span style="">Rev. Michael Ebersohl of the First United Methodist Church of Du Quoin--whose daughter Hannah is a member of the Du Quoin High School Class of 2010--told graduates Sunday, "As parents, we love you more than life itself."</span>

<span style="">Rev. Ebersohl brought to the service a message of hope amidst the reality of an "uncertain world." </span>

<span style="">"As parents we've prepared them for life to the best of our abilities, along with the help of excellent teachers and administrators to help our precious daughters and sons to stretch their wings and fly. Sons and daughters, we love you guys more than life itself. As parents, we confess that in our best attempts we made our measure of mistakes, and for that we are sorry. Still in spite of us and perhaps with a bit of help from us you turned out pretty well!"</span>

<span style="">"Young women and men you are facing an uncertain world; perhaps moreso than at any previous time in history. Our country experienced a national tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001 when you guys were just in fourth grade. Sadly you are stepping into a world of adulthood in which news of terrorism in far-away places and places not so far from home is now the norm, rather than the exception. Further, you are stepping into a global climate of immense financial ambiguity. Four years from now as you complete your college careers (and you will finish in four years, right?) you may find it difficult to secure employment in your chosen fields. This is a part of the bleak reality of the uncertain world of adulthood into which you are stepping.</span>

<span style="">"Yet, even a world of uncertainty, ambiguity and fear there are some things you can count on. We might even call them rocks on which you can step and build a sure foundation of a good and Godly future," he said.</span>

<span style="">He talked about being misunderstood and relayed one of the late humorist Art Linkletter's interviews with a child. He asked the child what he wanted to be and the child replied he wanted to fly airplanes. Linkletter asked him what he would do if his plane had 250 passengers on board flying at 30,000 feet over an ocean and all four engines went out. "I'd get my parachute and jump."</span>

<span style="">What about your passengers?</span>

<span style="">"Oh, I would come back. I'm just going for gas!"</span>

<span style="">"I have learned, through many years of ups and downs in life that I can count on God as the chief cornerstone of my life. God says to us, through the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." </span>

<span style="">Rev. Ebersohl said, "I'm convinced that God has a plan in mind for each one of your lives; for the life of each of us gathered here today. I'm likewise convinced that when we align ourselves with God's plans for us that we'll be content and happy and blessed in life beyond measure."</span>

<span style="">He shared Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." </span>

<span style="">"Graduates, I can attest to the fact that I have faced decisions, indecision, certainty and uncertainty by clinging to these verses of scripture. I have repeated those verses in my mind, heart and with my voice when I didn't know what else to say; when the days were bleak and when I didn't know what was around the next corner. Each and every time I have trusted in the Lord He has proved Himself to be faithful, most especially when I had little understanding of how God was revealing His plans for my life.</span>

<span style="">"So I invite you today, as you step into an uncertain world, to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Try not to lean too heavily on your own understanding. Today you may think you have all the answers to life, but you will discover as you continue to mature that at times your thinking and possibly even your direction in life has been flawed. At those moments remember the rock of trusting in the Lord, and not leaning too heavily on what you understand to be truth.

</span>

<span style="">"I pray, especially for those of you who will be leaving home for the first time, that you maintain your relationship with the God who loves you; that's part of the wisdom of acknowledging Him in your life. As you revel in your newfound freedom of making your own choices, we encourage you to remember the God who loves you; to cultivate your faith; go to Chapel and church services; read your Bibles; hang out with other Christians for fellowship. Acknowledge Him, graduates, and He will give you answers and direction for your life; He will reveal to you where the rocks are!"</span>

<span style="">The service included an invocation by senior Chelsea Hill, a welcome by senior Kate Stephens and a vocal/piano solo by Sarah Harsy. Senior Marcus Clarry shared readings from the Bible and senior members of the DHS chorus performed.</span>

<span style="">Amy Restoff gave the closing.</span>

<span style="">Musical accompaniment was provided by Mrs. Marla Uhles.</span>

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