Beautiful People, 

Today we focus on prayer and thanksgiving. I praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for each of you. Through you, Union Family, I have encountered God in laughter, joy, pain, rest, and love. It was God’s delight that we would share this year; it was God’s delight to create you and bring joy through you to others. I am reminded of Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables. There is a scene in this masterful play where the priest, the catalyst of change for the main character, states, “to love another person is to see the face of God.” What a profound statement on the reality of life. To love unconditionally, divinely, and sacrificially is to unveil the beauty of God to a dark world. In various ways this year, we have loved and, in doing so, shown the face of God. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:11-12).

We love by the power of God’s Spirit. God is love, and you were made in His image, so you were made to receive and give unconditional divine sacrificial love. To settle for less is to devalue your worth. Live in the light of God’s love, always! For our graduates, we will miss you; however, we are encouraged to know that you will make an impact on Christ’s Kingdom where ever you go! Just remember to “carry yourself in such way that when the people of the world are sitting, you would be standing. And when the people of the world are standing, you will stand out. And when the people of the world dare to be outstanding, you will be their standard,” the standard of unconditional divine sacrificial love. So today, breathe in God’s love and breathe it out with thanksgiving and prayer.  

Take care of yourselves, beautiful people.