There seems to be an East Wind blowing upon many of us who are graduating college in less than a month. It is the brutally kind wind of change, for some it greets us gently like that of a sea breeze on a warm summer’s day, while for others is treats us more brutally like that of a tornado. Graduation is mutually oxymoronic for both those experiencing the kiss of a gentle sea breeze or the whip of a horrid tornado. Some have established themselves at their respective universities and some were more enveloped in obscurity among the sidelines, watching, gazing, and contemplating. For some those who were in the establishment will be dismissed at their departure for having to start anew, yet they will regret not enjoying themselves more as they should have. For some those in the sidelines, they look forward to change, to something new and exciting, yet have a slight regret that they did not take full advantage of their university career.
Regardless, one of the most stinging of pangs felt mutually amongst graduates is the distancing of friends and the fear of losing friendships. Let us not lose heart, for many of us look forward to seeing of what becomes of ourselves, our friends, our acquaintances, and thus the world. Though many of us will go on separate paths and distant lands, leading us to destinations we both desire and did not desire to go, we all started from the same point. It is with much excitement to see what happens to us all once the tassel is forever moved and our names written in the dusted records of alumni. Let us not forget the potential we all have. For as Shakespeare wrote in his comedy "Twelfth Night," “Be not afraid of thy greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
“Some are born great-” For some people, greatness seems to have been naturally selected to a rare group of select individuals who were forever predestined to accomplish certain unusual feats. To them, greatness seems to be part of their human nature. To these individuals greatness is as natural as eating and walking. For them, greatness just seemed to ooze from their very being since their very beginning. Divine Providence for mysterious and unknown reasons (to us at least) selected them to be a container to hold a large proportion of potential for accomplishing great things. For them, it was written in the stars. To them, greatness is their divine vocation.
“Some achieve greatness-”Some people may have to work hard to attain this supposed greatness, they were not given the same proportion of greatness as the previous category of people. They may hold a slight spark. Yet it is an important spark, of natural greatness that cannot take shape naturally like the first category. They must protect and hone their tiny, small flame and tirelessly labor to craft their flame into a beautiful, illuminating, enchanting blaze. Their tasks shall be as great though they may have had to work harder to attain it.
“And some have greatness thrust upon them-”Some people did not ask for the greatness which was truly and accidently bestowed upon them through coincidences, relationships, inheritance, or through a random event. It was by Heaven’s choice which allowed circumstances to fall upon a person which would forever mark them to a great and noble path. Whether through good or bad circumstances, they were just tossed into greatness. They answered the call when summoned, and did so fearlessly.
cell and the only light that came out of it was that of the lamp which was guiding the organ player's music. Besides the main altar was a tall, crowned statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel with Christ Child in one hand and the scapular in the other. The base of the statue was surrounded with flowers. The organ was being played as the young and old knelt at the altar rail, wrapped with white flowers, to receive communion on the tongue. After communion was administered, the hosts were placed back in the tabernacle, and we all stood. The final prayer was recited and the congregation was responded with an resounding "Amen". The final blessing was given and all made a sign of the cross. The priest and altar server in cassock processed towards the sacristy as the organ played.I looked at my phone and noticing I did not have much time left began to leave. I knelt down at the painting of Madonna and Child which greets all who enter and said a quick prayer, along with two other Peruvians stretched out on the 6 foot kneeler.I made my way to McDonald's to order pancakes to go. I left with my pancakes and went back down the alley from which I originally came now decorated with a faint line of light from which I originally came. The church bells began to ran as it announced that 8 am Mass was to begin soon. And thus began the morning of that July 16.
