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This was given by Samuel Riggs as the salutatory address at City Center Academy's graduation on June 17, 2006.
It's been a long hard road to graduation. As I was reflecting on my address for this great occasion, I recalled all the experiences of my years at CCA. During this past week, I thought about the past, present, and the future. And after mulling it over, I would have to say this: God is in control. He only has our best interest at heart.
In hindsight, I saw that God used our past circumstances for the better. This year, many among us were hospitalized for various reasons—including Mrs. Dow. Why did God permit these things? The Lord was testing Mrs. Dow, but was also testing us. Were we going to step up to the plate and perform?
Several months ago, the senior class put on a talent night. We did not have Mrs. Dow to help us. The show, in fact, was in plac e of the usual Spring Program! This was the last show of the year. We knew it had to be good—we were charging admission. Furthermore, all of the seniors were expected to participate. We were all on edge because much of the routine was planned at the last minute. But when the show ended, I can truthfully sat that the first CCA Talent Show ended with a bang—all to the glory of God.
I also remembered this week something more personal; something that made me more useful to God—my dad's aneurysm and the resulting amputation of his right leg. Even though he's been in the hospital for a long time (my birthday, June 19th, is two months to the day that he was rushed to the hospital), he intends to go straight back to work. That only made me work harder. In fact, I earned my best grades when my dad went to the hospital. I remember what my dad said when I asked him to come to my graduation today: “That's a little pushin' it. After all, I don't wanna 'steal the show' away from y'all, because it's your day”. He's right, after all—it is our day, for us graduates!
My dad's words make me think about the present, the “here and now.” This is the distinguished class of 2006! For one, we are the biggest senior class in the history of CCA! Also, most of us have been leaders at one time or another. And we have influenced our underclassmen. One freshman wrote in my yearbook, “I wanna be just like you,” However, we should not be the real role models—Christ should be, because he is our salvation and he is in control.
That makes me think about the future. If you really think about it, our lives are really just chapters in a book. We can change the words in our book, but our plots cannot change because God is the real author. As we graduate from this school, one chapter is ending, yet another is beginning. All of use are headed to one college or another, to one future or another. With so many chapters unwritten, we do not know how our chapters will end. But the Author knows.
In closing, I am reminded of a picture that Kristin gave to me to put in the yearbook. The caption reads, “The class of 2006, founded on the ROCK!” Although we meant the rap group at the time, I'm now thinking of a different Rock—in that old hymn: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee”.
Hey seniors, let's celebrate the joy of this day and let's stand on the real ROCK, the Rock of Ages.
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